The Finest Word In The English Language

“There are no words to describe it”

~ Noel Coward

In the early years of the 1980s, a compendium was published in the UK which featured a list of “the most beautiful words in the English language”. Included in this lexiconolgical cavalcade were such linguistic raptures as ‘butterfly’, ‘willow’, ‘gossamer’, ‘mellifluous’ and ‘golden’.

Each word in the collection delicately addressing the ear as gently as it glided from the lips.

A Marvellous Word

It is my consideration that the list is incomplete. Because absent among this anthology of multi-syllabic treasures is, arguably, the finest word ever to grace the hallowed pages of the Oxford English Dictionary. It’s an exquisite, yet powerful word. A word loaded with emotion, loaded with verve. A word that has survived World Wars, endured educational reforms, and transcended the confines of regional dialect.

Curiously, the Oxford English Dictionary deems it to be a swear word, a taboo turn of expression, defining it even as ‘vulgar’. With this bearing, I take issue. How can a word, with its abundant uses and meanings, ever deserve to be labelled ‘vulgar’?

Hello, I would like a buy a "____" licence, please.

What this word does deserve is a wider appreciative audience. Its popularity in the United Kingdom is ineradicable, its status assured. But I want to hear it spoken by every man, woman and child on the planet. I am here to spread the word.

And that word is “_____”.

Let’s see it again. “_____”, Again! “_____”, Once more! “_____”. Oooh.

You will forgive me if this sudden onslaught offends you in any way, but it’s worth risking your displeasure, I think, just to heed to such a gloriously magnificent paradigm of the English language as “_____” .

It is with some measure of personal bewilderment that “_____” has not travelled well. Even the United States of America – a nation that leads the way in virtually every field of endeavour and, who, despite adopting and adapting the English language to suit its own needs, has elected to resist the desire to embrace the British “_____” by opting instead to welcome into its heart the frankly uninspiring “_____” .

Human Sentiments

For those listening who are unfamiliar with the meaning of “_____”, the word is frequently used in the United Kingdom to express the following human sentiments.

• DISBELIEF: “What complete and utter “_____” that is!”
• SHOCK: “Agghhh! “_____” don’t DO that!”
• FAILURE: “Oh, look! I’ve only gone and “_____”ed it up again!”
• PAIN: “Ow! “_____”, my “_____” back’s “_____” gone again!”

Hammer On Thumb

As a psychological tool “_____” is the optimum exclamation to roar out when you hurt yourself. Try it the next time you smash your thumb with a club hammer or stamp barefooted onto an upturned electrical plug. Bellow “_____” like a great Shakespearean act-or and you will discover the pain magically disappears. To my mind, “_____” is far too precious to be simply a swear word. Granted, for many years, “_____” was utilised by schoolchildren as verbal ammunition, something uttered to rile and offend little old ladies on the bus.

Remember his classic 1972 solo hit "____"?

Let us not permit “_____” to sit awkwardly with all those bland and unimaginative insults. Let us leave the “_____”, the “______”, and the “_______ _____ _____” to the likes of Mr Quentin Tarantino; You take care of the “______”, Mr T, we’ll look after the “_____”.

Famous Quotes

Consider if you will how many historical quotations would have been enlivened by the simple addition of … yes, you guessed it: “_____”.

Picture Mr Oscar Wilde, as he marches majestically through customs to proudly state:

“ I have nothing to declare except my genius … and my “_____”. ”

Mrs. Margaret Thatcher, whose impact on the international political stage could quite possibly have been enhanced if, as she faced the media on the day she became Britain’s 1st woman Prime Minister, she had said:

The originator of the word "____"

“ Where there is discord, may we bring harmony. Where there is error, may we bring truth. Where there is doubt, may we bring faith. And where there is despair, may we bring "_____"" ”

So come on people of Britain! Wherever you are, whenever you are abroad, be it business trip or pleasure. Promote the wonder of “_____”. Advertise the joy of “_____”. Let’s give something back to the World and get nation unto nation speaking “_____”.

Let us display to the World with pride our Great British “_____”.