Swearing in the workplace can cost you - WSFA.com: News Weather and Sports for Montgomery, AL.

Watch your language. It could cost you a promotion -- or your job. A new survey finds four-letter words could impact your professional image more than you think.

On the most stressful days at teh office, it's easy to let a few four-letter words slip.

But swearing in the workplace can put a dent in a reputation, according to a new CareerBuilder survey of more than 6,000 employers and employees.

Fifty-seven percent of employers said they'd be less likely to promote someone who uses salty language. And more than half said it makes a worker seem less intelligent.

"The majority of employers told us they think less of a person and they really question their professionalism. They also talk about questioning the lack of control and their maturity," said Michael Erwin with CareerBuilder.

Only 28 percent of workers said they'd directed an expletive at a colleague and most said they use their language just to vent.

Regardless of the reason or how comfortable you feel around your colleagues, career experts advise you to hold your tongue.

"We're all stressed, it's leaner workforces, we're doing more work, our workloads are increasing. But keep that level of professionalism. Because what you think might be an ok word in the office, your co-worker might not, or your manager might not," Erwin said.

The survey found workers here in the nation's capital the most likely to curse in the office, followed by Denver and Chicago.

This content was provided by CNN.