By Jonathan S. Hogue ~Opinions & Editorials Editor~

My goodness, where do I begin with this rant? If you walk through any building on campus, just listen to the conversations you’ll pass by. Quite often, I’ll walk through Gallagher and hear someone greet a friend with, “F*ck, how are you?” or “Shit, I’ve got so much to do tonight.” When did curse words become this common in everyday language?

Now, as I rant about this, I must come clean. I’m very guilty of doing this at times. Somedays the world can get a bit annoying and a good curse word just alleviates tension. Also, there are experiences that require a good f-bomb or litany of curse words to bring a smile to your face. However, the nonchalant way millennials incorporate curse words into daily conversation is sad.

Look, there’s going to come a time when you’ll meet a very rotten person. He or she will test you and may require you to go off on them. When it comes time to use those curse words, you want to make sure the language has a bite to it.

You can’t tell someone to “f*&k off!” and then later use the same word to describe how happy you are. The effect is lost.

I don’t want people to stop using curse words. I honestly believe they’re an integral part of the English language because they competently display emotion with few syllables needed. But please remember, curse words are to be used in moderation.

When you’re ecstatic about something try saying, “That was awesome” or “So happy that happened to me today!” If you see me walking around campus, there’s no need to say, “Sh*t, you look good today.” A simple “Looking great as usual, Jonathan” will suffice.

I think the best advice about cursing comes from my sister. Whenever she wants to curse, she replaces a naughty word with a Disney reference or cooking spice. So, instead of the s-word, she can be heard screaming “sugar” when she stubs her toe or “Jiminy Cricket” when something makes her mad. This ensures that when she uses her curse word, the moment is effective.

Take a little advice from the Hogues and please watch your language. There are plenty of words in the English language to use. Don’t always go for the low-hanging fruit, my friends.