Couldn't care less vs. Could care less?

Question

I HATE when people say, " I could care less" when discussing an issue they have no interest in. The proper thing to say is "Couldn't care less" otherwise you're implying that it isn't the least of your cares which just doesn't even make since. Does this bother anyone else or is it just me?

People, people. This is not something I am worried or stressed about, it was just a thought as are all the other questions on this site. Daaamn

Oh and for those who are saying they couldn't care less about the question...You obviously cared enough to read this and respond ; )

Irregardless, YES! That is another terrible one....If people want to be taken seriously they need to listen to what they're saying! It doesn't make any sense! If I'm in the middle of a serious conversation with someone and they throw "Irregardless" or "I could care less" into their speech, they lose their credibility in my eyes.

Answer 1

It's NOT just you....it bothers me too! Pretty much everyone I've heard this phrase from says it incorrectly and it makes me want to say to them "Do you realize what you just said? You want to think about that one for a minute?" I think people use the phrase much more incorrectly than correctly, and then other people catch on and start using it, not really thinking about what it really means to say "I could care less." To me it's ignorance in a way, and it's very annoying!

Answer 2

i'm an American and that i chanced on the score problematic too, yet it somewhat is using fact i assumed the U.S. had a pair of super possibilities to attain and win the activity. I inspite of the indisputable fact that the US group regarded stable, in general using fact in contrast to previous years, they did no longer fold after England scored first. The U.S. universal their strengths (teamwork, actual wellbeing) whilst the English group confirmed that they've mounds of guy or woman expertise. whether interior the top i'm chuffed using fact till the U.S. screws the pooch with the subsequent 2 video games, they are going to be happening to the subsequent around and would even stay away from dealing with Germany in the event that they win the objective differential. different than for the lapse interior the 4th minute, the U.S. protection close Wayne Rooney down. Altidore universal can run circles around the English defenders. Tim Howard is a beast in objective and is arguably the main necessary guy on the U.S. group. inspite of the crap heaped on eco-friendly by employing the English tabloids, he had some super saves. Goalies make blunders and Dempsy just about had an engraved invitation to the English penalty section for this reason of English defenders. This activity grow to be a self assurance booster for the U.S., no longer plenty for England. specific, we do care so plenty better than you think of roughly soccer, exceedingly in the process the international Cup.

Answer 3

It's one of my pet peeves along with the use of "irregardless" instead of just saying "regardless." However, it gives me a good laugh when people say it and with such conviction. If they only knew what they were saying! I think lately, I'm more annoyed with the new shorthand way of writing ("u r," etc.). Oh well...not much you can do about either one. Cheers.

Answer 4

You're right, "I couldn't care less" is the literal way of expressing indifference. "I could care less" is a sarcastic way of expressing it. But what seems to have happened here is that the latter has become a sort of "dead metaphor", a figure of speech that has become an empty verbal formula that has lost its figurative tension. People who pay attention to what they say ought to feel a pang of cliche-guilt when this empty formula passes from their lips, and gradually expunge it from their vocabularies.
___(Yes, "vocabularies"; for it's no longer a sentence, but an empty unit of speech.)

Answer 5

I also find it annoying -- if they thought it about it, they'd realize that it doesn't mean what they think it means. If you couldn't care less, you have reached rock bottom in your concern. You don't care at all. If you could care less, you care a bit -- there's still room between what you feel and not caring at all.

Answer 6

Yeah, it bothers me too. I just like for people to use the proper language or perfect English or to spell their words right simply because it's etiquette and shows they care at least a little. Anyway, I'm a bit of a perfectionist, so that's me.

Answer 7

I hate it too! But I also hate improper grammar in general, poor spelling, people who use obscure acronyms, techno jargon, sportscasters that misuse the word "differential", people who don't know the proper placement of an apostrophe (like the state of Arkansas!)..etc..etc...

Answer 8

Oh my god. It scratches my ears reading your question. I am 27 and I work at my town newspaper, and my boss always, every second, when we bring up a topic he is not fond of, he says. I could care less!! I am always thinking. Couldn't care less. AHHHHH!!

Answer 9

ME TOO! I also hate people saying irregardless - what is that without, without regard?

I know exactly what youa re talking about!!!

Answer 10

There are a million instances of these types of mispronunciations in the English, or any other, language. It's like the childhood game of "Telephone." You hear it one way so many times... I have a girlfriend who still calls second hand clothes, "Handy-downs."

The only solution I have found is to ignore them all together. Unless you are rich and can afford to post your pet-peeve corrections on billboards nationwide, your stressing isn't going to effect any change on anyone but you.