How the f*** do asterisks work?

Abstract

Abstract This chapter looks into the effectiveness of asterisks in mitigating swear words. The practice of sanitising swear words with asterisks or other symbols is widely and effectively used as a way of communicating swear words without causing offense. sanitization signals the speaker's intentions and attitudes toward her audience. Moreover, sanitization works in a similar way to many other widely accepted ways of expressing respect. The sanitization also allows the writer to communicate the swear word while also communicating that she recognizes its offensiveness and wants to mitigate that offensiveness. The chapter mentions how sanitization is sometimes ineffective at reducing offensiveness as it could only make matters worse.