The main objective of this study was to determine the incidence of cussing among the Basic Education students of Holy Name University. Specifically, the study aimed to answer the following: the respondent's extent use of cuss words in terms of; sex, age and grade level, the influence of respondents' swearing habit and the significant relationship of the use of cuss words and grade level, sex, and age.

The researchers found out that the most common expression used by the respondents across grade level is word boang. The word boang is the most commonly used expression uttered by both male and female respondents. For the two age groups, the word boang is also their favorite expression. There are three major influences of the respondents' cussing habit, first are the friends, followed by classmates and lastly the media. it has been also found out that there is a significant relationship in the use of cuss word in the respondents' grade level, sex, and age.

The researchers made a conclusion that even the grade schoolers are already using swear words and they learned most of these words from their friends and classmates. As they grow in age, the use of these swears words have become extensive making it a by-word even in casual conversations. thus, using these words frequently in a daily conversation have developed into habit.

The researchers made a recommendation specifically that the result of this study should be known to the parents to check the expressions used by their kids before it will turn into habit, that there should be a strict implementation of the law in the student's handbook of Holy Name University stipulated at section 5 and a follow-up study be conducted on the implication of using cuss words to effective communication.

College of Education