Could/couldn't care less....

[DizBelle]

Which do you think is the proper way to state when you mean that the person in question has no concern for the issue?

I think the proper way to say it is "couldn't care less". They care the absolute minimum possible and could not care any less for the issue.

I see both used and am wondering what most think.

If nothing else, perhaps this thread will educate some on the correct phrase to use.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

Think about the phrase logically. To say that you could care less means that you care some. To say that you could not care less means that you do not care at all...

 

[tzolkin]

You are correct, but many people say it the other way.

There are many phrases that people regularly use incorrectly.

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

Could care less does not make sense. It makes me cringe when people say/type it.

 

[brockash]

Hmmm, I had never thought about it before now, but I think "couldn't care less" is the correct way to put it, for reasons OP mentioned, however I think I use "could care less" more often I do think "couldn't care less makes more sense though, maybe I'll change

 

[PeterPan09]

I know that "couldn't care less" is the correct phrase, but I'm guilty of typing/saying "could care less".

15 lashes with a Strunk and White Book for me!

 

[ncmickeyluvr]

Think about the phrase logically. To say that you could care less means that you care some. To say that you could not care less means that you do not care at all...

This. I'm sure that I am guilty of horrible grammar on many occasions but this one grates my nerves.

 

[Deb in IA]

Think about the phrase logically. To say that you could care less means that you care some. To say that you could not care less means that you do not care at all...

EXACTLY!!!!

I tried and tried to explain it to some folks here in the past, to no avail.

Now, don't even get me started on lie/lay down.

 

[ZephyrHawk]

The proper form would be "couldn't care less" because it's saying the issue is the least of your concerns. However, colloquially, "could care less" also makes sense. Yes, there is something that you could care less about then the issue at hand, but the implication is that you don't.

 

[Sorsha]

Couldn't care less = I care so very little about it that it would be impossible for me to care any less.

Could care less = I must care about it a little bit, hence leaving room for me to care less.

 

[kaytieeldr]

EXACTLY!!!!

I tried and tried to explain it to some folks here in the past, to no avail.

Now, don't even get me started on lie/lay down.

Ooh! Ooh ooh! Get a copy of the February Reader's Digest. They EXPLAIN this!!!!

 

[MushyMushy]

Here's an interesting article on it:

http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-ico1.htm

As far as I'm concerned, I think they can be used interchangeably. As long as you know the speaker is being sarcastic when they say "I could care less," then you still get the meaning. As far as idioms go, they're not all grammatically perfect or correct anyway.

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

I think those numbers are lying. I feel like people type/say "could care less" more than 5.97% of the time. I would know because it's been a pet peeve of mine for a while and I notice it every time it's used incorrectly.

 

[mill4023]

I think those numbers are lying. I feel like people type/say "could care less" more than 5.97% of the time. I would know because it's been a pet peeve of mine for a while and I notice it every time it's used incorrectly.

The question wasn't asking which way everyone says it. It was asking which is correct.

There are probably a lot more people who say "I could care less", but when they think about it, they know it doesn't actually mean what they are trying to say.

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

The question wasn't asking which way everyone says it. It was asking which is correct.

There are probably a lot more people who say "I could care less", but when they think about it, they know it doesn't actually mean what they are trying to say.

Oh ha, I guess I looked over that part.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I think those numbers are lying. I feel like people type/say "could care less" more than 5.97% of the time. I would know because it's been a pet peeve of mine for a while and I notice it every time it's used incorrectly.

The question wasn't asking which way everyone says it. It was asking which is correct.

There are probably a lot more people who say "I could care less", but when they think about it, they know it doesn't actually mean what they are trying to say.

Which would mean that even though they know the grammatically correct version, they couldn't care less about actually using it... which, in my opinion, is a shame.

 

[mill4023]

Which would mean that even though they know the grammatically correct version, they couldn't care less about actually using it... which, in my opinion, is a shame.

Any time I correct my wife's grammar, I get the nasty look and the "You know what I meant!".

 

[kaytieeldr]

Would you like me to correct her grammar for you? Discreetly, of course. After she slips, we could coincidentally have a 'random, entirely unrelated' discussion here on the DIS where you use whatever word or term she did, and I would gently correct you?

 

[DizBelle]

I think that maybe due to this thread some folks are realizing that, perhaps, they were using the incorrect phrase for what they meant.