The Economic Times

From Norman Mailer's 'fug' to Trump's Oval Office: How a four-letter word conquered the English language

The F-word's journey from censored print to common usage is explored. Norman Mailer faced publisher edits in his debut novel, substituting 'fug' for the explicit term. Over time, through literature and media, the word's presence grew. Joseph Overton's theory explains how previously unacceptable terms become normalized. Donald Trump's outspokenness exemplifies this modern acceptance.