Meta ad rejected · Profanity
Why was my Meta ad rejected for profanity or grammar?
This rejection comes from Meta's Profanity policy, which covers swear words even when they are starred out or misspelled, profane emojis and gestures, and also odd spelling, symbols and random capitals. Rewrite the copy in plain, normally spelled words, remove profanity from text, images and audio, then resubmit or request another review in Meta Business Support Home.
What usually triggers it
- Swear words, including ones that are starred out, misspelled or partly replaced with symbols.“Get the best f*!%ing tshirts here.”
- Emojis or symbols used to signal swearing.“🤬 🖕💩”
- Profane gestures, including ones added with photo editing.
- Odd spelling, broken word order or stray punctuation inside words. Meta lists these on the same page.“Buuy Tshirts hear” or “Buy Ga.rcin-ia Camb,ogia here”
- Symbols in place of words, or strings of decorative symbols.“@ office” instead of “At office”
- Random capitals or accents used for effect.“TSHirTS” or “Whÿ wónt yòu clîck mé?”
How to fix the ad
- Remove the swear word completely rather than starring it out. Meta counts profanity that is obscure, misspelled or vague, including versions made with symbols or emojis. If any profane or sexual language stays in, target the ad to people over 18.
- Write in plain sentences with normal spelling, word order and punctuation. “Buy t-shirts here” is fine; “T-shirts buy here” is one of Meta's not-allowed examples.
- Use words instead of symbols, and sentence case instead of all capitals or mixed capitals.
- If a video includes swearing, fully bleep or cover the audio and fully blur any on-screen profanity. Meta allows this as long as it is not used excessively.
- Check text on the image, captions, the spoken audio and every text variation in the ad, not only the primary text.
- Run the copy through our free checker at /check before upload. It flags likely issues and estimates risk; it is not Meta's decision.
Risky wording, and safer wording
Illustrative examples to show the difference. Always check the full ad, image and landing page too.
| Risky | Safer |
|---|---|
| Tired of shitty cell service? Switch to a provider with better coverage. | Switch to a network with better coverage in your area. |
| Get the best f*!%ing tshirts here. | Heavyweight cotton t-shirts, made to last. |
| Buuy Tshirts hear | Buy t-shirts here. |
| Whÿ wónt yòu clîck mé? | See this week's new arrivals. |
| ♧ ♥ T-SHIRTS ♔ Buy Now ⚜ | New t-shirts in stock. Shop now. |
If your ad is already rejected
- Open the rejection email or Meta Business Support Home and read the reason. Find the word, symbol, gesture or sound that caused it.
- Edit the ad in Meta Ads Manager to fix the copy or creative. An edited ad is automatically sent for review again. Avoid deleting it if you might want a review, because Meta says a deleted ad may lose the option to request one.
- If you believe the ad did not break the policy, request another review in Business Support Home: select the account, select the ad, click Request review, then Submit. Meta aims to decide within 48 hours, and if the ad is rejected again you cannot request another review for it.
- Do not upload the same wording with new spellings or symbols to get past review. Meta already counts disguised profanity, editing or deleting a rejected ad does not remove the violation, and repeated violations can get the account restricted.
- Keep records: a screenshot of the rejected ad, the reason Meta gave, the date and what you changed.
Check your next ad before you upload it
Paste the copy and add the image or video. The free checker scores the rejection risk, points to the exact words at fault and the Meta policy behind each one, and suggests a safer version. It estimates risk; it isn't a decision from Meta.
Likely to be rejected. Fix the flagged lines before you upload.
This supplement ad combines a personal-attribute callout, a specific weight-loss result, guaranteed results, clickbait and a URL shortener, so it is very likely to be rejected.
Are you struggling with belly fat? Our gummies helped Maria lose 12 kg in 3 weeks!!! See the before and after pics. Doctors hate this one trick.
GUARANTEED RESULTS
https://bit.ly/slim-offer
6 issues found · tap a highlight to jump to it
“Are you struggling with belly fat?” · primary text
The ad asserts a personal characteristic about the viewer by addressing them directly about a body condition.
Fix: Our gummies are designed to support a healthy metabolism.
“helped Maria lose 12 kg in 3 weeks!!!” · primary text
A specific weight-loss amount within a short timeframe is an exaggerated, unrealistic result, and supplement ads must target 18+.
Fix: Remove the specific result; use a general statement such as 'Part of a balanced routine for healthy weight management.'
“GUARANTEED RESULTS” · headline
Guaranteed results are a prohibited claim for health and weight-loss products.
Fix: Use 'Start your wellness routine today' or remove the claim entirely.
“Doctors hate this one trick.” · primary text
This is classic clickbait, and the triple exclamation marks add to the sensational tone.
Fix: Replace with 'Learn how our gummies fit into a healthy routine.'
“See the before and after pics.” · primary text
Before-and-after comparisons for weight loss are high risk and draw rejection.
Fix: Remove the before-and-after reference and focus on the product's ingredients.
“https://bit.ly/slim-offer” · landing page
URL shorteners hide the true destination and are high risk, and can lead to account-level enforcement.
Fix: Use the full, direct landing page URL on the brand's own domain.
Safer version
Are you struggling with belly fat? Our gummies helped Maria lose 12 kg in 3 weeks!!! See the before and after pics. Doctors hate this one trick.
GUARANTEED RESULTS
Meet our gummies, designed to support a healthy metabolism. Easy to add to your day and made to fit into a balanced routine for healthy weight management. Learn how they fit into a healthy routine.
Start your wellness routine today
Also change: Link: replace the bit.ly shortener with the full, direct URL on your own brand domain, and make sure the landing page has no before-and-after photos, guaranteed-result claims or specific weight-loss numbers. Creative: remove any before-and-after images and any overlay text about kilos lost. Show the product or lifestyle shots instead, with overlay text like "Support your healthy routine". Set ad targeting to 18+.
Questions
Does Meta still reject ads for bad grammar?
Meta's current Advertising Standards do not list a separate grammar policy. Its Profanity page, though, lists examples such as “T-shirts buy here”, “Buuy Tshirts hear”, “@ office” and “T-SHIRTS” as not allowed, so odd spelling and formatting can still lead to a rejection.
Can I use a censored swear word like f***?
No. Meta does not allow profanity even when it is obscure, misspelled or vague, such as when symbols or emojis replace letters.
Is profanity allowed if I target people over 18?
Meta's page is not fully clear. It says profane and sexual language beyond the limited allowed cases should target people over 18, but it still lists profanity, including disguised profanity, as something ads can't include. The safest choice is to remove it.
Are acronyms allowed?
Meta allows acronyms that stand for profane language, as long as the acronym itself does not spell a profane word.
Can my video include bleeped swearing?
Yes. Meta allows fully bleeped or covered audio and fully blurred profanity, as long as it is not used excessively.
Will a profanity rejection get my ad account banned?
One rejection is not a ban, but Meta can restrict ad accounts, Pages and businesses for severe or repeated violations. Editing or deleting the ad does not remove the violation, while a rejection that is overturned on review does not count against you.
Meta's official pages
- Profanity (Meta Transparency Center)
- Introduction to the Advertising Standards (Meta Transparency Center)
- How to troubleshoot a rejected ad (Meta Business Help Center)
Ad Account Shield is an independent tool. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Meta.
Related guides
- Clickbait and low qualityClickbait headlines, “you won’t believe…”, “tag a friend” and shouting in capitals.
- Circumventing SystemsThe ad or its link looks built to hide the real content from Meta’s review.
- Nudity and adult contentNudity, implied nudity, suggestive poses or sexual language in the image, video, audio or copy.