Certain words in the English language are so offensive and sensitive that they can cause significant discomfort and misunderstandings. Instead of blaming individuals for using these words, we should consider banning them from our vocabulary. One such word is “fuck”—widely used yet universally acknowledged as offensive.

I once shared an office with a vibrant young man who had a heart of gold, was hardworking, collaborative, and helpful. However, he was dreaded by everyone because the only language he seemed to speak was filled with the word “fuck.” He used it regardless of the audience and always added, “excuse my word” after every sentence. Eventually, he lost his job after an encounter with an external auditor.

It’s mind-boggling to see the frequency and addictiveness of this word, especially among those who smoke weed or drink heavily. They speak it so fluently that one might think they attended a “Drinker’s Language School.” Given its irritating sound and offensive nature, why should we continue to include it in our dictionary?

Growing up, I encountered the word “fuck” through American movies, and using it made me feel social and trendy. One day, a friend invited me to the airport to pick up her boyfriend returning from Bulgaria. As we drove through the busy streets of Lagos, a bus driver made a reckless maneuver, and I exclaimed, “What a fuck!” The car fell silent, my friends were tight-lipped, and the boyfriend demanded I exit the car, or he would take a cab. This humiliating experience taught me a valuable lesson: if a word can cause such trouble, why should we continue to use it?

Daily writing prompt

If you could permanently ban a word from general usage, which one would it be? Why?

View all responses