When walking near almost any group of teenagers in or outside of school, one is bound to hear all sorts of obscenities spewing from their mouths. So much so that it almost begins to sound like background noise at some point. But what point are teenagers trying to make by cursing so excessively? 

Adolescent potty-mouths are nothing new, but they are not discussed nearly as much as thought, considering their prevalence throughout the years. Cursing has almost overtaken English as the main language of America’s teens, with curse words like “f—” and “s—” being used twice as much as essential particles like “and” and “the.” Today’s students may have a colorful vocabulary but not an expansive one. In moderation, cursing is normal and holds somewhat of an impact when employed effectively—if curse words hold any meaningful effect—they are so abused among teens that they have come to hold no meaning whatsoever.

As with most other learned habits of teens, “many young people resort to swearing as a means to try to demonstrate their level of maturity” (www.metroparent.com). Cursing also acts as an emotional outlet to express strong negative emotions or as a method to fit in with others. Cara Tang (12) explains, “I usually curse around my close friends because it’s just a way to express myself.” She also adds that “when she forgets something in class,” she curses to “show that [she is] upset.” However, she clarifies that she doesn’t “curse around people who are uncomfortable [with cursing] or that [she is] not close to.” Still, somehow many teens believe that by rapid-firing curse words, they will be respected, revered, and intimidating. “It’s not a bad word!” they say. If they want to test that theory, they should try letting their lips loose in a college admissions letter, job interview, or conversation with their parents and see how it goes. 

Some believe cursing is a classless habit. The reasoning behind this is the vulgar sound of cursing and the failure to use something of actual substance in its place. In reality, cursing has no real benefits other than coping with or releasing negative emotions. If one puts forth the effort, they can easily articulate their sentences without crude language and convey whatever they want more efficiently. 

Unfortunately, the word bank of today’s teens is extremely limited. “F— you!” they say with a laugh or comically yet seriously furrowed eyebrows, thinking they’ve made a powerful statement. All I have in response to such a weak statement is, “And?” I might be able to tell you’re a bit angry or upset about something, but the word does not convey any complex or more profound message. Maybe if you explained to me in a sentence with valid word choices that have meaning, I might understand your feelings a bit more. Insults that are worded in a sophisticated manner convey their nuance with greater impact; your vocabulary reflects yourself and the extent of your thoughts.

People tend to admire those who weave together their words with thoughtful intention, not those who utter any foolish thing they can think of.