<p>Would it be acceptable to use curse-words tastefully?</p>
<p>My question would be "Why can't this person find a precise, socially acceptable word?"</p>
<p>Is there absolutely no word acceptable in a professional setting that you can find? Because, generally speaking imo, the use of curse words reveals a poverty of imagination and expressiveness, not a depth of it.</p>
<p>I probably wouldn't recommend it, unless you're putting in dialogue that SOMEBODY ELSE spoke. ... It really doesn't add "voice" to an essay... but if you really think that it is "tastefully" done, then I suppose one word (depending on what it is) would be.... alright.</p>
<p>no reason to do so, and it can only hurt you. Find a euphemism</p>
<p>No. /*****************/</p>
<p>There are plenty of words to replace swearwords.</p>
<p>example: "gosh darn," "shoot," or "oh fiddlesticks!" (not that you would ever use these words in a college essay)</p>
<p>You want to attend one of the schools talked about on this forum and you want to swear in an essay? I wouldn't recommend that.</p>
<p>well, I'm not saying you should do this, but I read an essay that got someone into Harvard and he said S h i t (well he said S h * t)</p>
<p>How exactly would you use a swear word tastefully? Example?</p>
<p>There are many articles about swearing for writers of prose, but it takes a mastery of language in context to use profanity to good effect. Margaret Atwood is one of those few who can do it. Do a google search for such articles.</p>
<p>I have a similar question: What if you want to use a swear word as part of dialogue that really happened?</p>
<p>I'm considering using an anecdote that kind of shocks the reader, because they wouldn't expect this certain person to call this other certain person a swear word.</p>
<p>Does that make sense?</p>
<p>You probably should never use f uck in your essay, but my essay has "ass" in it and everyone who has read it so far loves it. That includes a Harvard and Brown grad. And I have also read that Harvard essay with s hit in it, and it really worked. So if it's done correctly, why not. Especially if it adds humor.</p>