My Biggest Grammar Pet Peeve
For the most part, I don't really care that much about grammar. If people invent new words, they might be hard to understand at first, but at worst I just won't bother to figure out what they're saying. If people ignore proper structure but their meaning remains clear, no harm done, right? There's really just one thing that gets me: when what you say undermines what you mean.
The primary example of this that I encounter is "I could care less". Of course, it is almost certainly literally true that people could care less whenever they say this phrase, but that's not really the point of it. The proper phrase is "I couldn't care less", and is supposed to indicate "I care so little that it is not possible to care any less than I do". Those of you that say the incorrect version should really look up "hyperbole", but if you're the type of person who says that phrase, you probably won't.
Sadly, vastly more people seem to say the incorrect version than the correct one. Normally I tend to consider widespread usage as the definition of proper, but when the meaning is butchered like this, it simply undermines the integrity, usefulness, and intelligibility of our language. You ever wonder why English spelling and grammar rules always have exceptions? Because people don't think about what they say, and blindly parrot others. I suppose this is what happens in a society where the best predictors of your religion and political views are those of your parents.
The primary example of this that I encounter is "I could care less". Of course, it is almost certainly literally true that people could care less whenever they say this phrase, but that's not really the point of it. The proper phrase is "I couldn't care less", and is supposed to indicate "I care so little that it is not possible to care any less than I do". Those of you that say the incorrect version should really look up "hyperbole", but if you're the type of person who says that phrase, you probably won't.
Sadly, vastly more people seem to say the incorrect version than the correct one. Normally I tend to consider widespread usage as the definition of proper, but when the meaning is butchered like this, it simply undermines the integrity, usefulness, and intelligibility of our language. You ever wonder why English spelling and grammar rules always have exceptions? Because people don't think about what they say, and blindly parrot others. I suppose this is what happens in a society where the best predictors of your religion and political views are those of your parents.
posted by Gideon Humphrey at 1:49 AM
8 Comments:
"I could care less, in theory."
I interpret that saying as an incomplete statement, left incomplete because the second part is obvious, or, the first part is obviously sarcastic, so the second part doesn't need to be voiced.
The fact that people may be oblivious to that construction isn't enough to make me lose sleep. Everyone knows what is meant, except maybe newcomers to the language, and they learn soon, so it only undermines the meaning, in theory. ;).
I could care less.
FJ: Although "in theory" does seem to correct the statement, I've never heard anyone actually say "I could care less, in theory", and I've heard many say "I couldn't care less".
It's true that people get it in a hurry, but think of it mathematically. Consider degrees, for instance. Why are there 360 degrees in a circle? Essentially because of some dude's whim. That's mildly annoying, but at least there's no contradiction from it. Suppose that the postulate read "There are 200 degrees in a circle", but every calculation had to be done with 360 degrees to match those of others. That would be really damn annoying, and it's the analogue of what's happened here.
Nathan: You're a dick. :P Not that I didn't expect SOMEONE to do that.
I suspect you would have been more disappointed if somebody DIDN'T do it. :)
I suppose mine would be 'grammer'.
One who gramms? Maybe it means someone who weighs stuff...
(I thought your grammar pet peeve was not finishing the bracket
Wow. Based on peoples' response so far, I really have to say this: It sure would piss me off if someone gave me $7000 right now.
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