Frequent swearing can suggest anything from immaturity to chronic anger or a simple lack of professionalism, she says, and yet 51% of workers said they use profane language in the office.

FORBES: Dirty Words Can Cost You a Promotion

Pernetti's conduct has been the subject of widespread scrutiny in the days since Rice was fired Wednesday after video footage released by ESPN showed him grabbing, shoving and kicking players during practice sessions and berating them with profane language, including gay slurs.

WSJ: Tim Pernetti Out as Rutgers Athletic Director

The university announced last week that Wolf had stepped down from his position as the school's top in-house lawyer because he was part of the group of senior officials who having reviewed a tape of Rice shoving and kicking players during practice and berating them with profane and homophobic language advised the school president that Rice should be suspended and fined but not fired.

WSJ: Rutgers Basketball, Mike Rice: Rutgers Lawyer Steps Down