rainsometimes | Question to native English speakers

I've started to think - a bit late, I know - that maybe I ought to be more responsible about the ratings I give my fics, especially perhaps when I post things outside my private journal on comms or on ffnet (though they have their own rating system over there). But when it comes to swearwords, I still don't think I really know enough about their impact and how it affects the rating. (Nor do I know the MPAA system very well, for that matter - but I'm not expecting an indepth explanation of that.) Should anyone reading this have the inclination and patience to give me a hint, I'd be very grateful - though I understand if no-one feels like it.

For instance, I'm curious about the words "shit" (and "shitty") and "goddamn". Are they generally considered about equally strong, or is one worse than the other? If they were to appear in a fic whose language and content is otherwise all within the G rating, how high should the fic then be rated?

And what about the f-word? Does that generally mean an R-rating? Or maybe PG-13?

I am of course aware that it's very hard to give hard and fast answers on this type of question, and in any case fanfics on LJ is hardly the same as movies. But some general hints would be great, even if they can't help but be rather subjective.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

That was EXTREMELY helpful, thank you so much! I'd looked up the MPAA thing on wiki, though, but wasn't quite clear on which swearwords would count as what, as this is something that's hard to get between languages. I'm assuming that "shit" and "goddamn" tend to be seen as more of a PG-13 thing than PG, then. Or maybe PG if they're used only once or twice?

I think I would put "PG-13" on them... maybe PG if it was just "goddamn."

I think "crap" and "hell" and "damn" are the more PG swears. "Ass" is PG too, I think, but "asshole" is PG-13 (weird I know). Something about "ass" still being reference to a donkey, while "asshole" definitely isn't. "Bitch" and "son of a bitch" are PG-13... though I think a lot of people will say "cunt" is automatically an R, it seems to be quite a nasty word to many people (I think that's a North American thing more than a UK thing, though). I personally don't have much issue with it, though I don't really use it or hear it much either.

Very much thanks again!!

I think "crap" and "hell" and "damn" are the more PG swears.

Oh crap, I thought they were just G.;p I shall have to remember that, and do better.

"Bitch" and "son of a bitch" are PG-13...

(nods) Yeah, I always thought "bitch" and "bastard" were pretty much stylistic equivalents.

Well, I just use a mental rule that G = no swears, sex or anything even the tiniest bit objectionable. I'm not sure if that's totally right, but it's the one easy line to remember for me!

I think if you posted a fic rated G and it had those words in it, no one would be up in arms :P

Question to native English speakers

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