Comments on: “Could Care Less” versus “Couldn’t Care Less” http://www.dailywritingtips.com/could-care-less-versus-couldnt-care-less/ Thu, 09 Feb 2012 22:29:22 +0000 hourly 1 By: starsNbars http://www.dailywritingtips.com/could-care-less-versus-couldnt-care-less/comment-page-4/#comment-395899 starsNbars Wed, 08 Feb 2012 10:58:36 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/could-care-less-versus-couldnt-care-less/#comment-395899 interesting thread...I was a "could" hater, but now, after reading here, am starting to nearly believe that there could, just possibly, originally have been an ironical component to the "could" expression.... or is it just a retro-excuse for an illiterate mangling of the original expression by immigrants whose native language was not English, ach, I used to be indecisive, but now I'm not so sure. Prescriptive vs descriptive is a major issue (not equal to problem) in all of this; obviously our lovely mongrel mutt of a language has evolved pell-mell, and has prob'ly incorporated many eggcorns and spoonerisms, leaving little trace, but it behoves us to keep the limits wide and the variety large, while simultaneously questioning changes which appear to come for no other reason than for changes' sake. I feel this particular neologism irks some of us because it appears to be an example of the latter, in addition to being an illiterate mistake/ sarcasm fail. The non-Americans in this thread perhaps feel that the USA has a more than just degree of license to wreak random changes to the language, due to its power through television and motion pictures, and so feel pushed into a conservative role. But, hey, just 'cos loadsa folks say it, don't make it correct; I'd personally like to see this hillbillyism die out due to a widespread effort of thought on our collective behalves....'hey, I been thinkin' 'bout that 'spression "could care less"..... I reckon it don't make sense, let's try it the other way round...shucks, know what..it makes more sense if you say "couldn't care less"....' It's a no-brainer, I say, let's go for the way that makes more sense. interesting thread…I was a “could” hater, but now, after reading here, am starting to nearly believe that there could, just possibly, originally have been an ironical component to the “could” expression…. or is it just a retro-excuse for an illiterate mangling of the original expression by immigrants whose native language was not English, ach, I used to be indecisive, but now I’m not so sure.
Prescriptive vs descriptive is a major issue (not equal to problem) in all of this; obviously our lovely mongrel mutt of a language has evolved pell-mell, and has prob’ly incorporated many eggcorns and spoonerisms, leaving little trace, but it behoves us to keep the limits wide and the variety large, while simultaneously questioning changes which appear to come for no other reason than for changes’ sake. I feel this particular neologism irks some of us because it appears to be an example of the latter, in addition to being an illiterate mistake/ sarcasm fail.
The non-Americans in this thread perhaps feel that the USA has a more than just degree of license to wreak random changes to the language, due to its power through television and motion pictures, and so feel pushed into a conservative role. But, hey, just ‘cos loadsa folks say it, don’t make it correct; I’d personally like to see this hillbillyism die out due to a widespread effort of thought on our collective behalves….’hey, I been thinkin’ ’bout that ‘spression “could care less”….. I reckon it don’t make sense, let’s try it the other way round…shucks, know what..it makes more sense if you say “couldn’t care less”….’
It’s a no-brainer, I say, let’s go for the way that makes more sense.

]]> By: Montana Miles http://www.dailywritingtips.com/could-care-less-versus-couldnt-care-less/comment-page-4/#comment-395650 Montana Miles Tue, 31 Jan 2012 22:47:06 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/could-care-less-versus-couldnt-care-less/#comment-395650 The term “I couldn’t care less” means that you have zero care. Zero is an absolute. So if you revisit a subject you say you couldn’t care less about it means you have not reached the zero point as demonstrated by your return to the subject; Therefore you could still care less. The term “I couldn’t care less” means that you have zero care. Zero is an absolute. So if you revisit a subject you say you couldn’t care less about it means you have not reached the zero point as demonstrated by your return to the subject; Therefore you could still care less.

]]> By: Will http://www.dailywritingtips.com/could-care-less-versus-couldnt-care-less/comment-page-4/#comment-395231 Will Fri, 20 Jan 2012 02:43:18 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/could-care-less-versus-couldnt-care-less/#comment-395231 Who decided to blame this on the Americans? As an American, I believe we are already maligned enough. As an expatriate living in a commonwealth country, I daily endure English translations (colour vs. color.... realise vs. realize .... and so forth.) If my brethren are responsible for introducing the horribly incorrect form of "I COULD care less...", can someone please provide some credible evidence. If it exists, I will unhappily accept it and carry on correcting all offenders when I witness the incorrect usage. It is without question my biggest pet peeve. I am here ragging on it today because I've just read a quote from a prominent politician in the NYT who has used the incorrect form. Simply put, if you cannot figure out how and when to use this phrase *correctly*, you risk being considered ignorant. Who decided to blame this on the Americans? As an American, I believe we are already maligned enough. As an expatriate living in a commonwealth country, I daily endure English translations (colour vs. color…. realise vs. realize …. and so forth.)

If my brethren are responsible for introducing the horribly incorrect form of “I COULD care less…”, can someone please provide some credible evidence. If it exists, I will unhappily accept it and carry on correcting all offenders when I witness the incorrect usage.

It is without question my biggest pet peeve. I am here ragging on it today because I’ve just read a quote from a prominent politician in the NYT who has used the incorrect form. Simply put, if you cannot figure out how and when to use this phrase *correctly*, you risk being considered ignorant.

]]> By: Koen Belgium http://www.dailywritingtips.com/could-care-less-versus-couldnt-care-less/comment-page-4/#comment-395161 Koen Belgium Tue, 17 Jan 2012 17:46:07 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/could-care-less-versus-couldnt-care-less/#comment-395161 I could care less about this whole debate. =) I could care less about this whole debate. =)

]]> By: TS http://www.dailywritingtips.com/could-care-less-versus-couldnt-care-less/comment-page-4/#comment-394876 TS Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:55:08 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/could-care-less-versus-couldnt-care-less/#comment-394876 I don't care if it's become a common colloquialism, when someone says "I could care less" I want to punch them in the face, it sounds so stupid. I don’t care if it’s become a common colloquialism, when someone says “I could care less” I want to punch them in the face, it sounds so stupid.

]]>