Well I'll be damned: Canadians drop more "f-bombs" and other curse words than folks in both the U.S. and Britain, a new study suggests.
While Canada prides itself on being a polite, reserved society, 56 per cent of Canadians admit they use foul language regularly while talking with friends.
In Britain, a country known for its proper manners, 51 per cent of those surveyed said they frequently or occasionally used swears words.
Meanwhile, though Americans are often stereotyped as being loud and outspoken, only 46 per cent surveyed said they regularly curse during informal conversations.
According to the study, nasty language is more prevalent at Canadian offices, too, as only 32 per cent of those surveyed in this country said they avoided swearing while on the job.
That is compared with 46 per cent of Americans and 33 per cent of Britons who reported that they never swear at work.
Even at home, the numbers show a similar trend:
33 per cent of Britons and 32 per cent of Americans said they don't swear in front of family members
Only 27 per cent Canadians reported that they abstain from cursing around family
Despite the range in responses, respondents in all three countries share similar points of view when it comes to language in the public realm.
According to the survey, more than 70 per cent in all of the countries believe it's not okay for doctors, lawyers, police officers and politicians to swear in public.
A smaller amount, between 60 and 67 per cent, said it's not appropriate for athletes to curse while in the spotlight.
Within Canada, there were also differences across regions: more Quebecers said that they never altered their language, even if it meant slipping the occasional curse into public conversations.
The study questioned 1,012 adults in Canada, 1,013 in the U.S. and 1,192 Britain. The online survey was conducted from July 20 to July 23.
The margin of error in the U.S. and Canada is 3.1 per cent. In the U.K., the margin of error is 2.2 per cent.
