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Tiny wordsmith rant

Today I read at least 3 articles/blog posts that used the phrase “could have cared less” referring to someone not being at all concerned with something. 

Example:
I could have cared less if they were serving spaghetti today. I wanted fettuccine.

If taken literally, this would mean that the speaker DID care somewhat that they were serving spaghetti.  But her point was that she didn’t care at all.

If you are saying that you absolutely don’t care at all about something…then you would say you could NOT have cared less.  There is no lesser amount of caring that could be achieved.  You really don’t care. Not a care in the world.

If you COULD have cared less…then you would have.  At least if the point is to show a complete indifference, which is generally how it is used.

I know. It’s petty.  I’m not slamming you, my friends.  But it’s one of those things that just keeps going because no one points it out. 

Lesson over. Class dismissed. For now.

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Comments

  1. CarolynJune 11, 2010 at 9:10 PM

    I'm with you on this one. :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. JessieJune 11, 2010 at 9:18 PM

    :) I like this post.

    ReplyDelete
  3. UnknownJune 12, 2010 at 8:48 AM

    I am filled with guilt and wondering where and when I did it. If you were critiquing my work, please change it.

    ReplyDelete
  4. muncherwJune 12, 2010 at 8:58 AM

    I could care less about this post.

    ReplyDelete
  5. RunningmamaJune 12, 2010 at 3:04 PM

    Giggling now because this same exact thing has bothered me before and I feel like I have had this conversation in my head sooo many times!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Momma PeepJune 13, 2010 at 12:21 PM

    I hate that!! And I HATE that I catch myself doing it all the stinkin' time!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. MOMJune 13, 2010 at 4:50 PM

    Do I sense a little Davidson in you? :o)

    ReplyDelete
  8. TriciaJune 15, 2010 at 7:54 AM

    ha! I was just listening to a man on the radio the other day talking about this. And how the INCORRECT version has made it's way into common usage and no one corrects it, so it's just taken.

    You would hate FB for the very reason that you discover just how many things people say incorrectly. One of my pet peeves--a huge one--is that SO many people say, "The worse thing in the world," instead of "The worst thing in the world." Or, "That is the worse!"

    Which really? COULD be technically ok. But...it's so wrong on so many levels! :)

    Thanks for holding people responsible. I know I make plenty of mistakes, but some things just grate!

    ReplyDelete
  9. KarenJune 16, 2010 at 8:29 AM

    Kind of like "irregardless".

    ReplyDelete
  10. stephanisteeleJune 16, 2010 at 12:55 PM

    I agree! That really bothers me too.

    ReplyDelete

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