Do people know the difference between could care less and couldn't care less?

Question

Ive seen so many people say they could care less, when, if you read it in context, they mean they couldn't care less.

Answer 1

Couldn't care less: Means that you could not care less; you really don't care at all.

Could care less: You really do care, and there is room for you to care less.

Answer 2

Yes, some do, I swear!
All the American friends I have seem to favour "I could care less", and I frequently have to stop and puzzle that one out, because the urge to ask "Really? How much less?" is strong in my pedantic little heart. But American English and UK English rarely correlate if there are two different ways of experessing the same idea (Yes, I know that technically this doesn't, but it carries the same meaning for people who use it). The one that gets my American wife and I most is "orient", as in to 'orient oneself'
"That just means East!" I claim, in what has become mock-exasperation. "The word is orientate. No honestly, it is!"
But her response is equally valid - "It hasn't been orientate since we kicked your redcoated asses out!"
By which I think she means that language is a continually evolving thing, and though we may be technically, historically correct with our orientate and our couldn't care less, whichever expression carried the meaning further and wider will win out. So even though it doesn't really, I'm guessing that by the next generation, "could care less" will be the universal way of expressing that, in fact, you couldn't care less...

Answer 3

Evidently not. I remember when people used to say, "I couldn't care less." Then they started being sarcastic and saying, "I could care less." That was probably short for something like. "As if I could are less." or "I could care less if I really worked at it but it would be dificult." Somewhere along the way the irony was lost and people started saying, "I could care less." as if it meant, "I couldn't care less."

Answer 4

I could care less is telling someone that it's a possibility how you might feel, I couldn't care less is saying how you feel at the time

Answer 5

Ann Landers, yes, may she rest in peace. She got this question, I'm guessing, one too many times, and came up with this: "couldn't care less" means you don't care AT ALL and "could care less" means you care just a tiny bit. Works for me.

Answer 6

That would require people to have a full understanding of the English language. It's just like when you ask someone what they are doing and they reply "I'm not doing nothing."
Girlie... I feel the same way about irregardless. I want to scream everytime I hear someone say that "word"!

Answer 7

Yes some people do but there are those with a limited knowledge of correct English who don't understand the difference.

Answer 8

Fascinating Topic isn't it But i could'nt care less

Answer 9

It's kind of like flammable and inflammable. They mean the same thing, even though they sound like they should be opposites.

Answer 10

No I don't think people do. I could care more...