What is Profanity?

[Jess Pumkin]

Thank you for this forum discussion - I also did not understand what "non-borderline profanity" meant.

"Profanity": Now my understanding is that all possibly obscene words (from the most minor to the most extreme) qualify as "profanity".
"Borderline profanity" are actually words that you aren't 100% sure are the most obscene.
"Non-borderline profanity" are the more hardcore and dirty language expressed, that leaves no question in your mind it is a profanity.

[Jess Pumkin]

Surely tone is meant to convey whether a word is a non-borderline profanity?

"Oh sh*t, you're Galen!" - for me this is profane. However, if I had to substitute another word in to understand how the writer meant it, it could be , "Oh wow/hi, you're Galen!". There is no venom in these words, and so I would take it to be borderline profanity.

[Michael David 33]

Identifying profanities might be difficult for readers who are not native English speakers. I have faced this issue and the word I thought was borderline was non-borderline profanity and it is frustrating because you only get to know it after your review has been checked by an editor and this affects the score. Even the editors or the guidelines don't provide a list of profanities which are borderline and non-borderline. Initially, I used to check for profanities online with any random profanities checker but those don't show if it is borderline or non-borderline and when in confusion it is always better to choose non-borderline. I had gone through multiple forums and finally found the forum created by Scott from onlinebookclub.org and it has been a saver. viewtopic.php?f=132&t=226478

[Tobi Adefila]

I think profane words are just words that one will find offensive. They are divided into two some are minor while some are extreme.

[Miracle Kingss]

Please, is "bloody" a profane word?

[Tomy Chandrafrost]

Please, is "bloody" a profane word?

I think it's not

[Tomy Chandrafrost]

Nig**, mula**o, redhead, ginger, white t***h is a profanity. But some can be borderline and nonborderline

[Gerry Steen]

This may be helpful. I just copied and pasted it from the guidelines regarding profanity:

"With all that said, if there is a word that you do not know whether to mark as (1) profanity, versus (2) not profanity, versus (3) borderline profanity, then email a verbatim quote of the full sentence containing the word to ProfanityQuestion@OnlineBookClub.org and we will give you an official answer."
I asked them about a word last week, and they gave me a definite answer.

[Sarah Vinchu]

OhThank heavens, I can comprehend this subject. I'll read through each one and make an effort to comprehend both borderline and nonborderline profanity. Regretfully, the little discrepancy between the two notions resulted in the rejection of three of my reviews.

[Jane Gent]

Hi, I would also like to add to this discussion.

I came across a word that I consider offensive, defined in the dictionary and Britannica as very offensive, and yet apparently is not profanity.
I find this confusing. Swear words are of course profane, but this particular word, (spaz) - and I apologise for using it, is not considered profane. Considering its origin, it is at the very least highly offensive to groups of people and I think it is wrong to use it in a derogatory manner. Maybe its meaning has changed these days, but in my generation, it would not have been allowed. I got docked 30 points for saying I violated guidelines by saying it was profane.
I also got a recheck because I was so sure I was right. Honestly, I still am, but I have to accept it.
What are people's views on this? I would be interested to know.

[Jane Gent]

@Gerry Steen
Hi, yes, I read that and did contact them. I just got referred back to the official profanity guide, so didn't get an answer as such. I am new here, so I'm still learning!
Thanks for that though.

[Gerry Steen]

Hi, I would also like to add to this discussion.

I came across a word that I consider offensive, defined in the dictionary and Britannica as very offensive, and yet apparently is not profanity.
I find this confusing. Swear words are of course profane, but this particular word, (spaz) - and I apologise for using it, is not considered profane. Considering its origin, it is at the very least highly offensive to groups of people and I think it is wrong to use it in a derogatory manner. Maybe its meaning has changed these days, but in my generation, it would not have been allowed. I got docked 30 points for saying I violated guidelines by saying it was profane.
I also got a recheck because I was so sure I was right. Honestly, I still am, but I have to accept it.
What are people's views on this? I would be interested to know.

Hi, Jane. My experience is that I take the path of least resistance in regards to the guidelines. They already have a list of words that they consider profanity, borderline profanity, and not profanity. Make these lists your bible. I lost points once, for putting the word "butt" as profanity as in "cover you butt". It turned out that this word was in the list considered Not Profanity. That being said, if the word is not in any of these lists, do not suggest it. If you feel strongly, enquire about the word before you include it in your review. In other words, do not submit your review until you receive an e-mail with an answer to your question. then go from there. I hope this helps. Good luck

[Blueberry Dragon]

This may be helpful. I just copied and pasted it from the guidelines regarding profanity:

"With all that said, if there is a word that you do not know whether to mark as (1) profanity, versus (2) not profanity, versus (3) borderline profanity, then email a verbatim quote of the full sentence containing the word to ProfanityQuestion@OnlineBookClub.org and we will give you an official answer."
I asked them about a word last week, and they gave me a definite answer.

@Gerry Steen Useful info that I'd missed. Thank you for pointing it out.

[Jane Gent]

@Gerry Steen
This is good advice indeed, and I shall be following it from now on! Thanks very much

[Nikita Wallace]

This is a very important question. I considered curse and obscene language to be profanity. However, the editor of my review had a different perception. Clarity is really needed in this area.