The F word

mum23 · Aug 22, 2007

Is it me or does using the F word cause readers to cringe.

the sentance I have is "Evidently, he threw some choice language similar to, you not very nice person, I’ve left my family for you and this is how you treat me, in her direction. So in theory, she was playing both of us for idiots.”

Or Should I just say, "you fucking bitch. I left my family for you and this is how you repay me?"

Andre_Laurent · Aug 22, 2007

mum23 said:
Is it me or does using the F word cause readers to cringe.

the sentance I have is "Evidently, he threw some choice language similar to, you not very nice person, I’ve left my family for you and this is how you treat me, in her direction. So in theory, she was playing both of us for idiots.”

Or Should I just say, "you fucking bitch. I left my family for you and this is how you repay me?"

I think "you fucking bitch...." is the way to go with that one.

Rolling Thunder · Aug 22, 2007

you fucking bitch. I left my family for you and this is how you repay me

Direct and shows.

mum23 · Aug 22, 2007

perhaps it's just me being the kind gentile lady that I am having a problem with writing it. Don't know why, say it regularly.

Elodie-Caroline · Aug 22, 2007

It depends if you want realism in your story or not... I would soon bin a book that had 'you not very nice person' in, instead of what is really meant. It's a bit like when you hear the dubbed 'freakin' in films, we all know what they really mean and it just makes me groan with boredom and disbelief.

Elodie

Shadow_Ferret · Aug 22, 2007

The first sentence just sounds lame. There's no emotion in it. Compared to the second one where we see that he's angry.

People swear in real life. Personally, I see no problem with the occasional F word. To me it shows that someone is very upset. However, when the F-bomb is dropped every other sentence it gets tiring and loses it's oomph.

I think my WIP only uses it once, I'll have to check. The character who uses it is a cop and a friend of the MC. He simply says, "I'm just fuckin' with you."

ETA: Holy cow you guys are fast! There were no responses when I started typing my response.

seun · Aug 22, 2007

I have been known to use the odd saucy word and don't believe only people with limited vocabulary do so. The important thing is to be true to your characters - if they would swear given the situation, then let it fucking well rip. If you wouldn't swear in the same situation isn't important. What matters is what your characters would do.

The Scip · Aug 22, 2007

seun said:
I have been known to use the odd saucy word and don't believe only people with limited vocabulary do so. The important thing is to be true to your characters - if they would swear given the situation, then let it fucking well rip. If you wouldn't swear in the same situation isn't important. What matters is what your characters would do.

I was just about to write the same exact thing, so I'll just say I agree with this.

If your character would say fuck then they should say it. If they wouldn't say it, leave it out.

mum23 · Aug 22, 2007

Thanks again for the help. The word is used once in my WIP and that sentance is it.

mum23 · Aug 22, 2007

The Scip said:
I was just about to write the same exact thing, so I'll just say I agree with this.

If your character would say fuck then they should say it. If they wouldn't say it, leave it out.

Well in real life, this is exactly what he said. So I guess I have to use it as it does add strenth to the sentance. Thanks

Esopha · Aug 22, 2007

I have no problem with the word fuck. It has a long and glorious history with sentient life. For example, in ye olde times, it stood for Fornication Under Consent of the King. It was considered respectable for nobles to hang signs with F.U.C.K. outside of their bedrooms, or in their windows, so that everybody would know that they weren't sexing for pleasure, but to make babies for the glory of the kingdom.

...*scoots out*...

EriRae · Aug 22, 2007

I have a mad, passionate love for the f-word. In fact, if I could, I would f*ck it

Just kidding...or am I???

Use choice #2. It's quick, to the point, and brutal, which is what he intended.

scarletpeaches · Aug 22, 2007

mum23 said:
perhaps it's just me being the kind gentile lady that I am having a problem with writing it. Don't know why, say it regularly.

I didn't think you were Jewish, no.

NeuroFizz · Aug 22, 2007

The Scip said:
If your character would say fuck then they should say it. If they wouldn't say it, leave it out.

I agree with the first part, but not with the last part. If you have established a character as the type who wouldn't use such a word, having that character say it will underline the severity of the issue that is troubling that character. Uncharacteristic responses jolt the reader, which is an important tool a writer can use (sparingly) to get across an overwhelming conflict for a character.

CaroGirl · Aug 22, 2007

Esopha said:
I have no problem with the word fuck. It has a long and glorious history with sentient life. For example, in ye olde times, it stood for Fornication Under Consent of the King. It was considered respectable for nobles to hang signs with F.U.C.K. outside of their bedrooms, or in their windows, so that everybody would know that they weren't sexing for pleasure, but to make babies for the glory of the kingdom.

...*scoots out*...

That was fun! It was actually generously given to us by the Dutch: fokken, usually used in reference to cattle and meaning to copulate. Those crazy Dutch.

scarletpeaches · Aug 22, 2007

I always thought it stood for For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge and was branded or tattooed on perverts and the depraved.

A.M. Wildman · Aug 22, 2007

scarletpeaches said:
I always thought it stood for For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge and was branded or tattooed on perverts and the depraved.

Check your hip... :tongue

rugcat · Aug 22, 2007

Esopha said:
I have no problem with the word fuck. It has a long and glorious history with sentient life. For example, in ye olde times, it stood for Fornication Under Consent of the King. It was considered respectable for nobles to hang signs with F.U.C.K. outside of their bedrooms, or in their windows, so that everybody would know that they weren't sexing for pleasure, but to make babies for the glory of the kingdom.

CaroGirl said:
That was fun! It was actually generously given to us by the Dutch: fokken, usually used in reference to cattle and meaning to copulate. Those crazy Dutch.

Actually, this first example is folk etymology – similar to an urban legend, colorful and entertaining but completely untrue.

The second is highly suspect.

If we’re lucky, Medievalist will drop by and give us the real scoop.

CaroGirl · Aug 22, 2007

rugcat said:
The second is highly suspect.

If we’re lucky, Medievalist will drop by and give us the real scoop.

Hey! I resemble that remark: http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/fuck

Esopha · Aug 22, 2007

You mean Mad TV lied to me!?

Thank you. Excuse me while I have an existential crisis.

scarletpeaches · Aug 22, 2007

Barbarique said:
Peppering your dialogue with gratuitous profanity is tawdry, distracting, and cheapens the story. On the other hand, characterizing a lowlife by having him/her swear can be very effective... in moderation. I hated having to use the F-word, but I did, because the character was a foul-mouthed brute. (In the end I killed him, though, which made me feel a lot better.)

Do only lowlives swear, then?

Esopha · Aug 22, 2007

scarletpeaches said:
Do only lowlives swear, then?

I don't fucking think so.

CaroGirl · Aug 22, 2007

Almost everyone swears, given the right circumstances. If you know your character and under what circumstances he would let drop the f-bomb, your readers will know it too.

Bufty · Aug 22, 2007

You know your characters and your story - and your intended audience - Mum, you decide. And when you've decided, imagine you are a reader reading what you have written.

Forget about it being 'okay' to use the f-word.

In the circumstances where it occurs, does its use ring true to the character who uses it?

scarletpeaches · Aug 22, 2007

Esopha said:
I don't fucking think so.

Thank fuck for that.

The F word

mum23

Andre_Laurent

Rolling Thunder

mum23

Elodie-Caroline

Shadow_Ferret

Court Jester

seun

Horror Man

The Scip

...walks this way.

mum23

mum23

Esopha

bam pow zap.

EriRae

:P

scarletpeaches

NeuroFizz

The grad students did it

CaroGirl

Living the dream

scarletpeaches

A.M. Wildman

Tentenda via est

rugcat

Lost in the Fog

CaroGirl

Living the dream

Esopha

bam pow zap.

scarletpeaches

Esopha

bam pow zap.

CaroGirl

Living the dream

Bufty

Where have the last ten years gone?

scarletpeaches