Why do we love to swear so much? Why do we get so offended when others do it? With wit and insight, philosopher Rebecca Roache seeks answers to these and other puzzling questions about bad language.

When someone swears at you, it can sting. Likewise, sometimes there is no better way to make the point you're making--emphasize, insult, or just plain offend--than to use a swear. What explains the magical power of swearwords? Why are they so good at offending people? To understand swearwords' power, we need to look beyond the words themselves--beyond the way they sound and what they refer to--and consider more generally what we do when we swear.

In this lively and amusing exploration of the various puzzles that surround swearing, philosopher Rebecca Roache argues that what makes swearing offensive is not really the words at all: the offensiveness lies in what we don't say. The unspoken--and usually unconscious--inferences that speakers and listeners make about each other are key to explaining swearwords' capacity to shock. Swearing is unique among etiquette breaches in that it is designed to convey disrespect--swearing packs more of a punch than failing to say <"please>".

Roache helps readers understand how swearing works, celebrating its power as a communicative tool and source of humor while also taking a close and serious look at specific words--those directed at women and women's bodies, for example--that function in particular, complex ways. She also examines the often-hypocritical ways swearing can be punished or censored. Along the way, she clears up a few puzzles, including why people are more tolerant of f*** than of fuck, and why quoted swearing is less offensive than unquoted swearing.

Finally, Roache helps readers appreciate that swearing isn't always bad. When it's not used offensively, it can foster social intimacy, can help people withstand pain, and might even help us curb our violent impulses. Even the offensiveness of swearing is valuable. Being able to cause offence by swearing is an important way of being accepted and respected as equals by other people.

Introduction Why give a shit about swearing? Chapter 1 What is swearing? Chapter 2 Swearing's secret offensive ingredient Chapter 3 There is no secret ingredient Chapter 4 Different kinds of wrong Chapter 5 Taboo, aggression, and harsh sweary sounds Chapter 6 How to be a really offensive swearer Chapter 7 You talkin' to me? Chapter 8 A regulatory fucking mess Chapter 9 How to do things with swearing Chapter 10 Fairer swearers Chapter 11 Swears versus slurs Chapter 12 Cunt and cocksucker Chapter 13 Cunt and 'cunt' Chapter 14 How the f*** do asterisks work? Chapter 15 Swearing as a force for good Chapter 16 The value of offensiveness Conclusion You're all fucking superheroes Acknowledgements References Index

Rebecca Roache , Associate Professor in Philosophy, Royal Holloway, University of London, UNITED STATES

Rebecca Roache is Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at Royal Holloway, University of London. She is co-editor, with Julian Savalescu, Will Davies, and J. Pierre Loebel of Psychiatry Reborn. Her work has appeared in places like the BBC, The Guardian, The Times, Harper's, MIT Technology Review, Aeon, and Slate. Her podcast, The Academic Imperfectionist, draws on philosophy to deal with things like self-doubt and procrastination.

"Swearing is indeed shocking, rude, and fun. It's also puzzling, fascinating, and thought-provoking, as is this marvellous book." -- Roger Crisp, Professor of Moral Philosophy, University of Oxford

"With brilliant wit and remarkable skill, Rebecca Roache takes up the linguistic, social, moral, and legal dimensions of swearing. The result is a philosophically sophisticated and highly readable discussion with lots of practical guidance about whether and when we need to watch our mouths. Roache's wise, funny, and thought-provoking book belongs on everyone's shelf." -- Karen Stohr, Ryan Family Professor of Metaphysics and Moral Philosophy, Georgetown University

"Finally a book that rips the fuck out of the arseholes who claim that swearing is 'the sign of a poor vocabulary' or 'unnecessary.' Bollocks to them. This book puts those dim wankers right in as serious, intelligent, knowledgeable and hilarious a fashion as the subject deserves." -- Stephen Fry

"This is a wonderfully well-written exploration of all aspects of swearing-cultural, linguistic, ethical and political. It's both insightful and an absolute page-turner, which made me laugh out loud several times-not a very common experience with philosophy books! In short, it's an excellent fucking book." -- Jennifer Saul, Waterloo Chair in Social and Political Philosophy of Language, University of Waterloo

"Roache skillfully probes the complexities of profanity use and its relevance to decorum, identity, and power. This will intrigue linguists and potty-mouthed laypeople alike." -- Publishers Weekly

"A lively examination of swearing in all its forms, and although it is often humorous, Roache also has serious points to make...With dry wit and a storyteller's eye, Roache romps through the history and social meaning of colorful language." -- Kirkus Reviews

"[B]oth academic and hilarious. Readers lured in by the title (and its sanitizing asterisk), especially those interested in the farreaching effects of language, and those who love to swear, will find much to ponder." -- Laurie Unger Skinner, The Booklist

"A really refreshing and insightful book." -- The Debut Digest

"Highly readable and amusing." -- Cathleen Mair, Idler

"Highly original ... It reveals all kinds of things about how we relate to people and the different ways in which we can communicate, threaten, or tease. I love this book." -- Nigel Warburton, Five Books