 When toning down expletives, asterisks are often used to replace letters.For example, the word "fuck" might become "f**k", "f*ck" or even "****".Vowels tend to be censored with an asterisk more than consonants, but the intelligibility of censored profanities with multiple syllables such as "b*ll*cks" (bollocks) or uncommon ones is higher if put in context with surrounding text.