Great article by Ann Leckie on swearing.
If I ever got up on James Lipton’s stage and had to answer the Bernard Pivot questions, “What is your favorite word?” and “What is your favorite curse word?” would have the same answer.
As some regular readers may have no doubt figured out, fuck is my favorite word.
It’s not precisely because it’s a curse word, but rather its complex versatility.
Anyhow, I try not to overuse it, but it’s a struggle some days.
When I swear, I prefer to do so in polysyllables. Perhaps it’s only in my own mind, but I like to think it increases the tension between social acceptability and shock value. Acceptability because it sounds more erudite and shock value because it is nevertheless still using the taboo words.
eg “hellfire” rather than “hell”, “damnation” rather than “damn”.
I’m too much of a geek not to have slipped into the habit of using “frak” instead of “fuck.” Although there’s something that rolls off the tongue about “for fuck’s sake.”
But my favorite word is “paroxysm”. I cheer a little inside when I see someone else use it. Fantastic word!