Pet Peeve #39 - Say What You Mean
“I could care less.�
Oh? You could? And here I was thinking you didn’t care at all. It’s good to know there is a possibility of you caring less and thus meaning you do care at least somewhat for what we’re talking about.
I believe the correct phrase, and what you meant, is: “I couldn’t care less.�
Just because they are my pet peeves doesn’t mean they can’t amuse me.
While, technically, this kind of statement is contextual and could work when it’s in the correct place, I have never once heard someone say, “I could care less� and mean it that way. What they are really going for is “I couldn’t care less�.
Am I the only one who laughs at people who act snooty and snarky and then go on to say something like, “I could care less�? Whenever someone says that to me, I very seriously and say, “That’s good to know, but I’m more concerned about you caring a bit more, not less.�
I am probably the only one who finds this funny, but that’s okay.
Honestly, I think it’s all a matter of herd mentality. The whole “LOL� thing, saying things – like irregardless – that are wrong or overdone can all probably be blamed on herd mentality. We pick up traits from the people we like, our family, and the media.
I can imagine someone standing up at this point and saying, “I could care less.�
(Please tell me someone out there is amused by this could/couldn’t care less thing as I am.)
Bottom line: Think about what you’re saying and what it truly means.
November 19th, 2007 at 2:21 pm
So. I know that this post is over a month old, but I just stumbled across your blog, and I have to say that I love this entry. The whole ‘I could care less’ issue just amuses me to no end. My husband uses this phrase (incorrectly)constantly, and I always say “Oh, you could?” And then he glares at me and says “Couldn’t! Couldn’t! You know what I mean!”
It’s all very hilarious. I always find myself smirking at people who use ‘could’ instead of ‘couldn’t', and then I have to think of an excuse for my smirk when they invariably wind up asking me ‘what’s so funny?’
Anyway. Just wanted you to know that someone out here is just as amused by this as you are.
Cheers
November 20th, 2007 at 3:50 am
No worries on commenting on older posts.
Could care less is quite an amusing one, but there are so many other ones. I have many of my own private smirks.
Thanks for stopping by!
August 23rd, 2008 at 5:51 pm
THanks for clearing that up - I was beginning to wonder if I was wrong, saying ‘I couldn’t care less!’ because I’ve lately noticed it crop up on the net. I assumed it was a North American thing, actually, and since that’s where the population base is, I bet the phrase ‘I could care less’ will win out in the end… That’s English!
August 25th, 2008 at 8:08 pm
My pleasure, Stace.