diff --git a/src/utils.rs b/src/utils.rs
index 2439f29..ab65636 100644
--- a/src/utils.rs
+++ b/src/utils.rs
@@ -32,7 +32,6 @@ pub mod utils {
         None
     }
 
-
     pub fn create_swear_list(swear_list_url: &str) -> Result<Vec<String>> {
         // Downloads the text file
         let resp = reqwest::blocking::get(swear_list_url).expect("request failed");
@@ -44,5 +43,17 @@ pub mod utils {
         BufReader::new(File::open("list.txt")?).lines().collect()
     }
 
+    pub fn detect_swear_from_message(swear_list: &Vec<String>, message: &str) -> bool {
+        let message_words = message.split_whitespace();
+        for words in message_words {
+            for swear in swear_list {
+                if words.contains(swear) {
+                    return true
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        false
+    }
+
 }
 
diff --git a/tests/test_swear_detection.rs b/tests/test_swear_detection.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..61cf7ba
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_swear_detection.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use matrix_modbot::utils::utils::{detect_swear_from_message, create_swear_list};
+    use matrix_modbot::config_reader::config_reader::BotUserInfo;
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_detect_swear() {
+        let creds = BotUserInfo::get_info("tests/test_creds.ini").unwrap();
+        let swear_list = create_swear_list(&creds.swear_list_url).unwrap();
+        assert!(detect_swear_from_message(&swear_list, "fuck you"));
+        assert!(!detect_swear_from_message(&swear_list, "This isn't a swear"));
+    }
+}