What a Punk

Actual conversation today during creative writing class:

Student: Can we use swear words in our novel?

Me: What did you have in mind?

Student: [spells out a four-letter word]

Me: You can write [spells out four-letter word with asterisks instead of the middle two letters]. Don't overdo it.

Student: Is [spells out a milder four-letter word] a swear word?

Me: Yes. If you wouldn't say it in front of your mother, it's a swear word.

Student: Oh, I swear in front of my mother all the time.

Class: [Laughter]

Me: [Wrinkles forehead] If you wouldn't say it in front of your grandmother...[grimaces with mental effort]...If you wouldn't say it in front of your father's mother, with your father present, it's a swear word.

Student: Ohhhh...