Steven’s Reviews > Swearing Is Good for You: The Amazing Science of Bad Language > Status Update

“Swearing is a bellwether — a foul-beaked canary in the coalmine — that tells us what our societal taboos are. A “Jesus Christ!” 150 years ago was as offensive then as a “fuck” or “shit” today. Conversely, there are words used by authors from Agatha Christie to Mark Twain — words that used to be sung in nursery rhymes — that these days would not pass muster in polite society.”