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Q&A How to write cleanly even if my character uses expletive language?

Some suggestions: Tommy slammed the door on Charlie's fingers. Charlie exploded with: some very colorful/ripe language. language that would make a sailor blush. language that made/would make his...

posted 6y ago by Kartik Soneji‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

Answer
#3: Attribution notice added by user avatar System‭ · 2019-12-08T11:21:01Z (about 5 years ago)
Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/43630
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
#2: Initial revision by user avatar Kartik Soneji‭ · 2019-12-08T11:21:01Z (about 5 years ago)
Some suggestions: Tommy slammed the door on Charlie's fingers. Charlie exploded with:

- some very colorful/ripe language.
- language that would make a sailor blush.
- language that made/would make his mother blush.

You could also use some an euphemism (especially if your character is foreign/has a unique personality). Also has the added bonus of making an iconic catchphrase like:

- OH, by Toutatis! (Asterix and Obelix)
- Billions of bilious blue blistering barnacles! (Captain Haddock, Tintin) 
- Ten thousand thundering typhoons! (Captain Haddock, Tintin) 

More curses from Captain Haddock: [http://www.tintinologist.org/guides/lists/curses.html](http://www.tintinologist.org/guides/lists/curses.html)  
101 Cuss word alternatives: [https://wehavekids.com/parenting/101-Great-Cuss-Word-Alternatives](https://wehavekids.com/parenting/101-Great-Cuss-Word-Alternatives)

By indirect reference:  
(after swearing, by another character)

- "Such language!"
- "You should be ashamed of your language!"
- "Is this how your mother taught you to speak?"

Use Grawlixes like in comics: &#$%#@!\*&

**And, my personal favorite** (never fails to crack people up):  
replace "you fucking idiot" with "you uneducated potato"

#1: Imported from external source by user avatar System‭ · 2019-03-16T13:05:59Z (almost 6 years ago)
Original score: 2