"I could care less"
April 16th 2008 13:38
"The dismissive 'I couldn't care less' is often used with the shortened 'not' mistakenly (and mysteriously) omitted: 'I could care less.' The error destroys the meaning of the sentence and is careless indeed."
"I could care less" is one of my biggest pet peeves. Saying it is like if Rhett Butler were to tell Scarlett O'Hara at the end of Gone With the Wind, "Frankly, my dear, I give a damn, but only somewhat."
I remember explaining the reason why "I could care less" is wrong to a high school friend, who argued that the ability to care less does not preclude the possibility that one could still care very little. He was right, logically, but of course the matter is rhetorical, not logical. Saying or writing "I could care less" robs the phrase of its original meaning and intent: it's supposed to indicate that one doesn't give a damn at all.
If you know anyone who needs a visual aid, refer to the handy Caring Continuum:
Image from incompetech.com.
--The Elements of Style, Strunk and White
"I could care less" is one of my biggest pet peeves. Saying it is like if Rhett Butler were to tell Scarlett O'Hara at the end of Gone With the Wind, "Frankly, my dear, I give a damn, but only somewhat."
I remember explaining the reason why "I could care less" is wrong to a high school friend, who argued that the ability to care less does not preclude the possibility that one could still care very little. He was right, logically, but of course the matter is rhetorical, not logical. Saying or writing "I could care less" robs the phrase of its original meaning and intent: it's supposed to indicate that one doesn't give a damn at all.
If you know anyone who needs a visual aid, refer to the handy Caring Continuum:
Image from incompetech.com.
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Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
This 'could care less' mistake really annoys me too, but I have never heard anyone in Australia make it. I come across it most on American TV and in American books, and I don't know why they say it - it makes no sense!
Michaelie
Comment by Irene
Grammar Matters
Cooking Monkey
Comment by Morgan Bell
Deep Pencil
Current Business News
Movie Train
Artist Quirk
now "twice the price" would really be saying something!
the phrase i have botched my whole life is saying "intensive purposes" instead of "intents and purposes" . . . i still cant get my head around it being three words instead of two
im also a shocker for saying "little own" instead of "let alone" . . . i have no excuse, just bad habits
Comment by RubySoho
Music Zone
Thought Zone
Morgan..."little own" haha. Your mistakes remind me of the David Allen comedy routine where he talks about growing up Catholic and the first time he heard "in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost"' he was at his uncles' funeral and he thought the priest said "in the name of the father and of the son and into the hole he goes".
He repeated this at school until one day the nun slapped him around the head for making fun of God. HIs reply? "I saw him, he went into the hole!"
Classic, somewhat off-topic but very funny
Comment by Irene
Grammar Matters
Cooking Monkey
RubySoho, that's a good one.
Comment by Anonymous
PS If you bitch about my spelling - your a douche!
Comment by Irene
Grammar Matters
Cooking Monkey
Comment by Anonymous
Hmmm! By my understanding of the English language, the above means at least someone thinks saying "I could care less." is wrong. I basically think ways both are appropriate. "I could care less" means that you care to some degree but could care less and "I couldn't care less." means you do not care at all. The basic issue here is people who say "I could care less." when they really mean "I couldn't care less." Kind of like when people say to give more than 100%.
Comment by Irene
Grammar Matters
Cooking Monkey