Back to swear one: A review of English language literature on swearing and cursing in Western health settings

•Swearing is an increasing problem in the health workplace•There is a dearth of methodologically sound literature on swearing and cursing.•We present an overview of this controversial topic in the health workplace.•Swearing is linked to distress, anxiety, job turnover and poor therapeutic relationships.

The purpose of this paper is to review the literature on swearing in English with particular emphasis on healthcare contexts, a previously neglected area of research. The review commences with a discussion of the nature of swearing, definitional considerations, and its prevalence. This is followed by an outline of the uses and functions of swearwords, and discussion of those aspects of swearing linked to illness, aggression, gender, and mental health problems. The final section focuses on the importance of appropriate responses to swearing to the practice of health professionals, in particular, those within the nursing profession.