Saying an R-rated word can feel good when one is feeling angry or frustrated. Some people consider such words to be sentence enhancers or like "adding salt". I personally don't curse a lot because I find those words disgusting and rude. I will admit that sometimes I do let out an expletive when I am angry or disgusted. Then everyone in the room bursts out laughing because it's not in my nature to swear on a regular basis. I know several potty mouths who have a tendency to say words that can make a sailor blush. For many people, cussing is a habit that is hard to break. If you fall into that category of people or you just want to stop cussing so much, here are some tips to help you reduce your cussing habits. These tips shall especially come in handy if you are in a situation where using colorful language is inappropriate or frowned upon.

1. Come up with substitute words to say in place of the vulgarities.

For example you could say "sugar" in place of s**t or "fudgesicle" in place of f**k. It may sound silly, but that's the whole point! Sounding silly is better than sounding disrespectful, right?

2. Pretend that little kids or your grandparents are in earshot.

You wouldn't use strong language in front of small children because you wouldn't want them repeating it. And you probably won't want to utter a vulgarity in front of your grandparents either. If this is the case, you can cut down on cussing by imagining that a young child or your grandparents are in the same room as you. When in doubt, use your imagination.

3. Cover up the swear word you just blurted.

Did you just drop your favorite mug? This is a good time to let out a four-letter word, right? Wrong! If you are trying to cut down on swearing, you might have to get a little creative in times like this. For example if you find yourself saying f**k or s**t, you could add on to it by saying "fuck-crying out loud" or "shit-take mushrooms". Just pretend that your innocent little cousin is standing right behind you.

4. Get advice from a friend or loved one who doesn't swear a lot.

What you could do is ask that person what they do or say in a situation that may trigger a cursing attack in you. Maybe you could follow in that particular person's footsteps and use their technique in a normally swear inducing situation for you.

5. Buddy up.

Who says you have to go at this alone? Find a close friend or a loved one so you both can work together in reducing your habits.

6. Identify your triggers and avoid them.

Do you find yourself saying every curse word under the sun when your favorite football team loses or messes up towards the end of the game? If this happens, change the station so that you aren't saying a lot of inappropriate words. Figuring out what triggers a swear attack in you will help you cut down on it because you will be walking away from a situation that gets you fired up or frustrated.

7. Find someone to point out whenever you swear.

This is pretty self-explanatory. All you have to do is have someone let you know when you just said a curse word. That way you know when you curse and when to decrease your curse word usage.

8. Find a good motivation.

Suppose your boss offered you a position that advances from your current position. If you want that new position, you would likely not drop an F-bomb in front of the interviewer because foul language is frowned upon and considered unprofessional in the workplace. In a moment where you are willing to take a new job position, you could practice using more "professional" words so that you don't say an inappropriate word during the interview. You could also imagine that you are at your job. If your boss catches you using obscene language, they will probably fire you. So when in doubt, pretend you are in a situation where you aren't allowed to swear.

9. Have a positive attitude.

The key to cutting down on a bad habit is to have a positive attitude about doing so. Just tell yourself, "I can do this".

10. Don't get frustrated if you slip up.

Hey, we all make mistakes. If you slip up, it's not the end of the world. Just keep trying your best to tame your potty mouth.

Like reducing any bad habit, cutting down on cursing can be hard, especially if you do it a lot. But if you use one or more of these tips and stick to it, your language will be cleaned up in no time.