Is swearing free speech in the UK?
Asked by: Miss Elissa Mante | Last update: January 30, 2026Score: 4.5/5 (61 votes)
Yes, swearing is generally protected as free speech in the UK under Article 10 of the Human Rights Act, but it becomes illegal if it's used in a way that causes harassment, alarm, or distress to others, often under the Public Order Act 1986, or if it's part of threatening or insulting behaviour, especially concerning racial hatred, leading to potential fines or prosecution. While casual swearing isn't usually an offense, local councils can also introduce Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) to ban foul language in specific areas, though these face criticism as potential curbs on expression.
Is swearing illegal in the UK?
There is also an offence of using obscene and profane language in the street to the annoyance of residents. However, a person is only likely to be arrested for this offence if the behaviour occurs in the presence of a police officer.
Is the f word protected speech?
Yes, the "f-word" (profanity/obscenity) is generally protected speech under the First Amendment, as the Supreme Court has ruled that offensive or vulgar words alone aren't enough to restrict speech; however, it loses protection if it crosses into unprotected categories like "fighting words" (direct personal insults likely to provoke violence), true threats, or is part of obscenity, though courts have narrowed these exceptions significantly, as seen in the Brandi Levy case where school-related online swearing was protected.
What kind of speech is illegal in the UK?
Current law allows for restrictions on threatening or abusive words or behaviour intending or likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress or cause a breach of the peace, sending another any article which is indecent or grossly offensive with an intent to cause distress or anxiety, incitement, incitement to racial ...
In what country is it illegal to swear in public?
Russia. Swearing in public is an administrative crime in Russia.
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Is it illegal to say the f word in public?
Saying the "f word" in public isn't automatically illegal, but it can become a crime if it falls under categories like "fighting words," harassment, disorderly conduct, or disturbing the peace, especially if directed at someone to provoke them or if it's extremely offensive in a specific context, though general profanity is usually protected by the First Amendment. The key is the context, intent, and potential to incite violence or disrupt public order, not just the word itself.
Which country has no swear words?
Unless you're speaking Esperanto, it's best to cover your ears. It's been suggested people can't swear in Japanese or Finnish, but the rumours are wrong in both cases - the only languages in which one cannot swear are 'artificial' ones such as Esperanto.
What can I not say in the UK?
Under the Public Order Act 1986, it's a criminal offence to use words or behaviour intended to stir up hatred based on race or religion. That includes threatening, abusive, or insulting language—even satire or mockery—if the intent is to provoke hostility or fear.
Is misgendering a crime in the UK?
Anyone who claims it is always harassment and/or that the Forstater case says this, is wrong. As with many legal questions, the answer to whether misgendering is wrong is 'it depends'. There's been no law on this subject: no statute nor development of the common law.
What speech is banned in the US?
The categories of unprotected speech include obscenity, child pornography, defamatory speech, false advertising, true threats, and fighting words.
What are the 5 limits to freedom of speech?
Five key limits to freedom of speech include incitement to violence, true threats, defamation, obscenity/child pornography, and speech integral to criminal conduct, all of which are generally unprotected because they cause direct harm, incite immediate illegal acts, or involve other serious offenses like fraud or perjury, despite free speech protecting even offensive or unpopular ideas.
What free speech is not protected?
The following speech may not be protected: Speech that is intended and likely to provoke imminent unlawful action (“incitement”). Statements where the speaker means to communicate a serious expression of an intent to commit an act of unlawful violence to a particular individual or group of individuals (“true threats”).
Is it illegal to make racist comments?
In the U.S., racist comments are generally protected speech under the First Amendment, even if offensive, but they become illegal when they cross into specific categories like true threats, incitement to imminent violence, defamation, or fighting words, or when they become part of discriminatory actions in employment, housing, or public services, leading to civil rights violations or hate crimes. So, while yelling slurs on the street usually isn't a crime, using racist language to deny someone a job or threatening violence is illegal.
Can you swear at a cop in the UK?
It can be unpleasant and insulting when some members of the public behave in an abusive and aggressive way to police officers. Furthermore, the courts do not accept that simply swearing at a police officer is sufficient grounds for an arrest.
Is being racist illegal in the UK?
In the UK it is illegal to treat anyone differently because of their gender, race, religion, age, disability or sexual orientation. Racism is unacceptable in the UK. It is a serious offence to injure, harass or verbally abuse someone because of their race or to damage their property for that reason.
Is cursing illegal in the USA?
Generally, cursing in public is not an illegal offense. However, there are some instances where you still could be charged with disorderly conduct when cursing.
Can a man legally use a women's bathroom in the UK?
Here's the part that absolutely fries the brains of the bathroom panic brigade: there is no law in the UK that says men can't use the women's loo or that women can't use the men's.
Can I refuse to use pronouns in the UK?
As an employer, you cannot force an employee to use someone's new pronouns. However, you can expect them not to use the old pronouns. Some employers encourage their staff to share their pronouns.
What speech is illegal in the UK?
Any communication which is threatening or abusive, and is intended to harass, alarm, or distress someone is forbidden. The penalties for hate speech include fines, imprisonment, or both.
What is the silly law in the UK?
It's an offence to beat or shake your carpet or rug in the street in London. The Metropolitan Police Act 1839 strikes again! You can shake your doormat out, but only before 8 am. It's actually illegal to be found drunk in the pub.
What is shut up in British slang?
Common British slang for "shut up" includes "Put a sock in it," "Shut your gob," "Pipe down," "Zip it," and "Button it," often used to tell someone to be quiet in a blunt or informal way, though more polite alternatives like "Be quiet" or "Hush" exist, depending on the context and desired tone.
Why do Brits say "isn't it"?
it's supposed to be the contracted form of is it not. isn't it in it in it, it is used as a question, tag to mean, right? or as a rhetorical question. for example, this cake is delicious, isn't it meaning this cake is delicious, isn't it.
What state is ranked #1 for swearing?
Maryland is ranked #1 for swearing in the U.S., according to a WordTips study analyzing geotagged social media posts, followed by Louisiana and Georgia, with Baltimore being the sweariest city. The study looked at millions of tweets to find that Maryland had the highest frequency of profane language, with Baltimore driving the state's high ranking.
Is cr * pa a bad word?
"Crap" is generally considered mild profanity or vulgar slang, making it inappropriate for formal settings like work or school, but often acceptable in casual conversation among friends or family; it's not as strong as stronger swear words but can still be seen as impolite, depending on the audience and context. Using "crap work" refers to low-value tasks, and while the word itself is informal, the quality of the work described is poor.
Who has 69 languages?
The country that has 69 officially recognized languages is Mexico, which includes Spanish and 68 distinct indigenous languages, making it one of the world's most linguistically diverse nations, despite Spanish being the predominant language spoken in daily life.