Appropriate punctuation for removing letters in offensive words

Solution 1:

Usually, asterisks are used. A single asterisk replaces a single character. Censor everything after and including the first vowel.

f***

Or simply censor the first vowel.

f*ck

I personally prefer the former.

Alternatively, one could use grawlixes, or assorted special characters

f@#!

This is most often used in cartoons.

There is also, leet speak. This is most common on the internet. In this case, one finds a similar looking special character to a letter of an offensive word.

Shit
$#!+

Personally, I have never seen any form of hyphen or dash used.

Solution 2:

I have frequently seen an asterisk used, f**k or f***ed, and I've rarely, if ever seen any kind of dash. Someone else could possibly tell you how many asterisks are required. But to be very boring, it all depends on context. The n word is almost always offensive whether said or implied: it is the concept that is offensive not purely the word.

I have used various techniques to diminish the offensiveness of an offensive word, and one of the best, i.e. if you really think that your text must omit these words, is taken from "Blazing Saddles," i.e. "The sheriff is a," the train whistle drowned his final word.