"I could care less."
OR
"I couldn't care less."
Though I can't remember the last time I've heard someone say the latter, it happens to be the correct usage. Let's break this down: If you say that you could care less, you are saying that you care. In other words, you are saying that you could care quite a bit less than you care right now. That's not what people mean when they say that. What they mean to say is, "I care so little that I could NOT care any less than I do right now. In other words, I couldn't care less."
If anyone doubts, I did look it up here. Thanks for listening. Yes, I know I'm anal-retentive when it comes to these things, but that's okay.
OR
"I couldn't care less."
Though I can't remember the last time I've heard someone say the latter, it happens to be the correct usage. Let's break this down: If you say that you could care less, you are saying that you care. In other words, you are saying that you could care quite a bit less than you care right now. That's not what people mean when they say that. What they mean to say is, "I care so little that I could NOT care any less than I do right now. In other words, I couldn't care less."
If anyone doubts, I did look it up here. Thanks for listening. Yes, I know I'm anal-retentive when it comes to these things, but that's okay.
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5 comments:
I totally agree with you on this one.
One of my former leaders used to drive me bonkers when he'd say, "I cease to be amazed..." when he meant "I NEVER cease to be amazed..."
Don't even get me started on these words and phrases that creep into our language that are just wrong. For example: irregardless and mischevious. I find it appalling that some dictionaries include these as words.
I very much side with you on this. Also, the common and improper use of "decimate" is now in some dictionaries. Consider - decimate means to destroy ten percent of. Makes sense, doesn't it? I mean come on! "Deci!"
Also, the word "exquisite" does not mean "beautiful," it means "highly detailed."
There are so many expressions that I hear and see typed up where people don't know what it means, don't think about what it means, just repeat what they THINK they have heard. "For all intensive purposes." No, no, NO! Not many people care about the casual destruction of our language anymore, so it is a relief to see people who do.
I know I am late to the party on this post, but let me just say AMEN and AMEN. I have made mention of this mistake many times to various people. "Oh so you could care less? that's funny."
It usually doesn't make them very happy. But it sure is fun. Next time I bet they have to think, "wait, so which is it again?"
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