Does it have its place? The resounding answer would be NO. Just ask anyone. According to a recent survey, swearing can cost you a promotion and damage your professional image more than you. In general, people view the use of four-letter words as a sign of ignorance, a lack of maturity and problematic self control.

Yet profanity in the workplace is at an all-time high. The swearingest city in the U.S., according to the survey, is Washington, D.C. While half of those surveyed in the nationwide poll conducted by Harris Interactive© on behalf of CareerBuilder, admit to having sworn at work, the overwhelming majority (95%) have sworn in front of coworkers, not their bosses.

But when is using profanity considered O.K. even helpful? According to a study by professors at Northern Northern Illinois University, who authored Indecent Influence: The Positive Effects Of Obscenity On Persuasion ”the use of obscenity could make a credible speaker appear more human.” While that could be true, the general attitude toward using cuss words is frowned upon on the job. In fact, in the U.K., swearing can be considered a gross misconduct on the job.

Swearing was a part of my youth, and I’m not so proud of that, primarily because it really has developed into a terrible habit and one that I have to monitor in public. I don’t swear out of anger, like some people do. And while I agree that it can be funny, it is more times than not, offensive. And that’s my point. Why make others uncomfortable?