Editing Profanity (section)

== Censorship and avoidance ==
[[File:PEGI Bad Language annotated.svg|thumb|Profane language is often subject to regulation in media. This icon, used by [[PEGI]], indicates that a video game may contain "bad language".<ref>{{Cite web |title=What do the labels mean? {{!}} Pegi Public Site |url=https://pegi.info/what-do-the-labels-mean |access-date=18 September 2024 |website=pegi.info |language=en}}</ref>]]
The idea of censoring taboo ideas exists in all cultures.{{Sfn|Matusz|2017|p=38}} Swearing inappropriately can be punished socially, and public swearing can bring about legal consequences.{{Sfn|Stapleton|Beers Fägersten|Stephens|Loveday|2022|p=2}} There is disagreement as to whether [[freedom of speech]] should permit all forms of profane speech, including hate speech, or if such forms of speech can be justifiably restricted.{{Sfn|Hughes|2015|p=222}} [[Censorship]] is used to restrict or penalize profanity, and governments may implement laws that disallow certain acts of profanity,{{Sfn|Hughes|2015|p=62}} including legal limitations on the broadcast of profanity over radio or television.{{Sfn|Ljung|2011|pp=9–10}} Broadcasting has unique considerations as to what is considered acceptable, including its presence in the home and children's access to broadcasts.{{Sfn|Hughes|2015|p=294}}

Profanity may be avoided when discussing taboo subjects through [[euphemism]]s. Euphemisms were historically used to avoid invoking the names of malevolent beings.{{Sfn|Hughes|2015|p=151}} Euphemisms are commonly expressed as metaphors, such as ''make love'' or ''sleep with'' as descriptors of sexual intercourse.{{Sfn|Hughes|2015|p=152}} Euphemisms can be alternate descriptors such as ''[[white meat]]'' instead of ''[[breast meat]]'', or they may be generic terms such as ''unmentionables''.{{Sfn|Hughes|2015|pp=151–152}} [[Minced oath]]s are euphemisms that modify swear words until they are no longer profane, such as ''darn'' instead of ''damn'' in English.{{Sfn|Ljung|2011|p=11}}

Substitution is another form of euphemism, with English examples including the replacement of ''[[fuck]]'' with ''the f-word'' or ''effing'' and the use of "[[four-letter word]]s" to refer to profanity in general.{{Sfn|Hughes|2015|pp=xx, 3}} Chinese and some Southeast Asian languages use [[pun]]s and sound-alikes to create alternate swear words. The Chinese word for bird, {{lang|zh-Latn|niao}}, rhymes with the Chinese word for penis and is frequently invoked as a swear.{{Sfn|Matusz|2017|p=45}} The [[Cockney]] dialect of English uses [[rhyming slang]] to alter terms, including profanity; ''titty'' is rhymed as ''Bristol city'', which is then abbreviated as ''bristols''.{{Sfn|Hughes|2015|pp=395–396}}

Speakers and authors may engage in [[self-censorship]] under legal or social pressure.{{Sfn|Hughes|2015|p=62}} In the 21st century, censorship through social pressure is associated with [[political correctness]] in Western society.{{Sfn|Matusz|2017|pp=35, 38}}{{Sfn|Hughes|2015|p=348}} This has led to the intentional creation of new euphemisms to avoid terms that may be stigmatizing. Some become widely accepted, such as ''[[substance abuse]]'' for ''[[drug addiction]]'', while others are ignored or derided, such as ''differently abled'' for ''[[disabled]]''.{{Sfn|Hughes|2015|p=153}}