When the #$#@ did expletives become such a normal part of everyday language? Cursing may well have lost its ability to shock and awe since it's used so much.

There was a time not too long ago when it was just not acceptable to curse. Parents didn't swear at their kids, and kids--if they had any sense at all--didn't swear (within earshot) of their parents. Teachers didn't swear at their students. Coaches never swore--publicly. And remember those seven words that were never ever uttered on television? Yeah, you can hear them almost every night now on your favorite cable TV shows. Something has changed.

James O'Connor says that what we say and how we say it is a reflection of who we are. And we don't look so fine right now. To that end, O'Connor has founded the Cuss Control Academy in Lake Forest, Illinois and written a book called "Cuss Control."

"The language we are using gets worse all the time," O'Connor explained to Knight Ridder Newspapers. "People say, 'Well, they are just words.' But it's much deeper than that," O'Connor insists. "Too often, the words are hostile, sour sounding, belligerent, and threatening. There are a lot of negative thoughts, expressions, and attitudes behind the words."

And when we express our anger and outrage using words that are not four letters long, what does that do--besides show off our well-developed vocabulary? "The whole thing really boils down to civility," O'Connor said, noting that swearing won't get you hired, promoted, or a date for Saturday night.

And to that end, O'Connor has devised the cure for the common curse:
10 Tips for Taming Your Tongue
Recognize that swearing does damage.
Start by eliminating casual swearing.
Think positively.
Practice patience.
Cope, don't cuss.
Stop complaining.
Seek alternative words.
Make your point politely.
Think of what you should have said instead.
Work at it.

And it never hurts to hear Mom's voice in your head telling you to mind your mouth.