“Could Care Less” versus “Couldn’t Care Less”
My article about the loss of Thou received some comments on the use of “could care less” instead of “couldn’t care less.”
My choice to write “Shakespeare could care less” was a deliberate one. I felt that “could care less” was more euphonious than “couldn’t care less” and sounded a bit “cheekier.” I thought that by now either form of the idiom was acceptable.
How wrong can a writer be?!
So wrong that a Google search of the phrase “could care less” garners 1,930,000 hits. Some of the discussions are quite impassioned. Although the newer form of the expression meaning “not to care at all” has been widely-used for some time, many people still regard it as an uneducated error.
Paul Brians, English professor at Washington State University, points out in an interview with Avi Arditti the difficulty of dealing with idioms that are in the process of changing:
the problem is that as [a new idiom] evolves, you get caught as a user between people who are going with the new pattern and those who know the old pattern and are comfortable with it.
Cautions Brians,
some people will disapprove or think less of you if you say it [the new] way.
He concludes that speakers and writers may choose to use the newer pattern, but that they do so at a certain risk because people who are bothered by the new pattern may be in a position to hire them, or grade their papers, or reject them as social equals.
The Oxford dictionary already recognizes “could care less” as an American colloquialism. Many people, however, regard it as incorrect since it makes no logical sense (if you “could care less” it means that you care at least a bit).
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You should have included a forth option in the poll: “I couldn’t care less”.
Uhm, where is this poll?
I’m one of those very passionate when people say “could care less” because it makes no sense! And I also feel a twinge of sadness that this new, contradictory form enters the dictionary. At least it is marked as “American colloquialism” meaning “SLANG”.
(Oops, now I see the poll.)
It drives me crazy when people say “I could care less.” I always correct them.
Tom, good point I added a fourth option in the poll!
“Couldn’t care less” is proper because it’s saying that “I could not care any less about this; I care so little about this that I cannot care any less.”
I sometimes use “Could care less” followed by an abrupt “but not by much” to indicate that while I do care somewhat, I am not far from not caring at all.
After all if it warrants me expressing my opinion I must care SOME.
Rootman, that for sure is a nice work around
.
This reminds me of another shortened phrase. “He graduated high school in June.” It bothers me when people leave out the ‘from.’
I’m no expert, but I have always taken “could care less” to be ironic and “couldn’t care less” to be proper and direct.
Lyrically I prefer to say “I could not care less”.
It adds emphasis and clarity to the meaning of the phrase.
I agree that “could care less” rolls off the tongue easier. However, I feel this pronunciation matter should be handled by the speaker, not the writer.
A speaker of a text always takes some liberties regarding the pronunciation of certain constructs, and when they read “couldn’t care less,” it should be up to them to pronounce it as “could care less” – not the writer’s job to write it in the first place.
Of course, in informal text, I find this colloquialism to be totally fair; as long as the writer is aware of the correct meaning.
Using “could care less” demonstrates a lack of basic understanding of the semantics of English language.
As a Brit,I’ve never seen the sense in the reversed American version. I tend mentailly to add some missing words: “I could care less [if I really tried, but it wouldn't be easy given how little I care right now.]“
I am also a passionate supporter of the “couldn’t care less”‘ form, and it saddens me that this is even an argument up for debate. The form “could care less” is in contradiction to the meaning in which it is used.
In Australia, the prevalence of American media is making the “could care less” form increasingly prevalent. For my ears, the slang form is not more euphonious as I cringe as a result of it. When the situation allows, I do correct those I encounter using the incorrect form (sadly not always successfully).
In the late 1950’s, a verbose variation on the term “I couldn’t care less” was spoken, “I suppose I could care less, but I don’t see how.” Words were dropped out over the next few years until “I could care less” was all that was left. Those too young to know the history of the saying likely cringe and think it is nonsense. Those who know its derivation mentally hear the unspoken words and accept its meaning without concern.
If that is indeed true, John, it would make much more sense.
To throw my opinion into the pot, though: I much prefer the use of the form ‘couldn’t care less’ both lyrically and logically.
So do I, Jeremy. When an older person like myself says, “I could care less,” I assume they know they are using a shorthand version of the longer saying. I cringe when a younger person uses it because they don’t know why the say the opposite of what they mean.
I doubt it will ever go away, so I can’t let it bother me anymore.
I’ve always thought of it sarcastically as in: “Like (or ‘as if) I could care less!”.
I think both are acceptable. If some people are bothered, I shouldn’t care less, could’t care less, or am I simply getting careless?
I don’t find “could care less” acceptable. It’s like “I didn’t do nothing,” which is becoming acceptable too.
John Cleese made a passionate point against “could care less” in his podcast. http://funkwarehouse.com/jcpod.....ast-18.mp4
i’m 100% with him.
surfmadpig,
I followed your link.
Priceless!
hi folks, I think both are acceptable. Because if we want to put a comment on a particular thing we can do it in a negative manner also.
I hate people who say “I ku-care-less”, it sounds low class and uneducated. I think the people who say it do so because it sounds cool rolling off the tounge that way, and it’s a bit more effort to say “I couldnt care less”.
I, and everyone I grew up with/around (friends/family) have always used “could care less”.
How about “I could care less?” and “I couldn’t care less!”
I use the term “I Could care less!” as in
SARCASM!!!!!
I mean it as, “As if I could care less…” lol
i dont understand the meaning of this topic well.. anyway anyone willing to teach me? i really willing to learn bout english.. because my english is lousy.. right now i enter the college.. everyone of my college friend is using english..so i need to improve my english.. please add me markgan88@hotmail.com so i need some advise from u all bout english lesson..
I agree with Gwen - EXACTLY! “I could care less” is a SLANG - that is the end of the discussion right there.
I get sooo annoyed when someone says it, but what I’m actually thinking is, “has this person stopped to think about what he or she is trying to say? If you don’t care - which is normally what they intend to say - then how could you care less??”