I know not curse words, but what's a curse word?

I have been cutting down on my cussing not because I think its eeeevilllllll, but it is pointless in most situations. There are times when I still do cuss like a sailor such as machines not working the way they are supposed to or slow electronic devices or when I become really clumsy for a couple seconds and almost die.

To some folks ( mostly older-than-me generations ) -- 'darn' and 'heck' are cuss words...

I never knew this. I once heard 'heck' from a children's song. But this is good info.

To be completely honest, alternatives, are a way of compromising. I like to think about it as a way that helps other people (like those who really have a hard time quitting swearing) to transition to the new life, and separating from the world (as Jesus has called all of us to do). But then again, many of us, actually all of us, still fall short. Personally, I haven't arrived to where it starts to bother me.

I say some mild swear words. I do have some fun substitutes though, like Blinkin' Lincoln!, Holy Moses! and Fudge monkeys!

Golly gosh young man,
Jimeny Cricket,
Fiddle Sticks,
I say old boy.
Be a good chap now.
(Said in my poshest plum in mouth accent).

Well, dadgoneit, Tintin..stone the crow!!

Im so gonna start using those.

"Hell" has never been a swear word. Many things (AND places) begin with "hell." Here's a lot I can think of:
*Hello (popular greeting; elders basically don't get offended by this) EDIT: I think you should just say "hi" or "hey" when little kids are around so their parents don't get, you know, confused.
*Hell (place in Michigan)
*Hell (place where the bad guys go)
*Hellmann's (mayonaise)
*Hella (meaning "really")
*Green Hell (nickname for the Nürburgring Nordshcleife)
*Dodge Challenger/Charger SRT Hellcat (muscle car)
*Shell (outer case; has "hell" at the ending)
*Shell (abbreviation for "stupid hell")
*Shell (gas station)

The latter three end with "hell."

Now, "damn," on the other hand, isn't really swearing either. But! Some people, especially RELIGIOUS elders, tend to get offended by such words as Hell, Piss, and Damn, but I think not by words like Crap or Flip (a "Mormon" slang, lol). Which doesn't make sense because the latter two are supposed to be euphemisms for which I wouldn't use here.

Here are some "damns":
*Great Damn Burger (restaurant)
*Every Damn Time (slogan used by Capital One)
*Damnation (send/condemn to hell)
*Dam (water barrier)

Neither word is as bad as words like "b*tch" or "b*stard" or the "S word" or the "F word." When used as expressions like "WTH" or "Dammit," these words are more like slang, but no they're not vulgar or profane. They're always said early on TV.

In the words of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Oh shell!

In the words of the Transformers: Scrap!

(Yes both sets of characters actually used those as exclamations in shows. I work with kids at church so I find out a lot of stuff I never wanted to know...)

Hell has never been a swear word. It's only impolite to say what the hell or (even worse) shut the hell up when the teacher is around.

Crap is a swear word, but a small one.

Actually, "crap" is slang for a specific bodily function and is NOT a swear word. Crap can also mean "stuff", as in "I have too much crap in this apt. and nowhere to put it." lol..