Like Fingernails Dragging on Chalkboard

I couldn%27t care less

People. It's "I COULDN'T care less". I'm just saying.


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Comments

Anonymous said…
i am really curious what you mean by this...
does the chalk board there not say exactly what you did ("I couldn't care less")? or is the fact that your "couldn't" was in all caps significant?
December 10, 2007 11:45 PM
D.R. Cootey said…
LOL It was an uncharacteristic gripe. I had read several "I could care less" comments yesterday - more than usual. It set my teeth on edge.

The expression is "I couldn't care less", meaning that one is at the perfect nadir of disinterest. The common misspoken version of this expression implies that there is room for more disinterest and apathy, showing that the expression doesn't mean what the speaker thinks it means.

I found the Bart blackboard program somewhere on the web and enjoyed the double message by having Bart writing this message. Bart truly couldn't care less if he spoke with proper grammar or not. Drives the point home.

Thanks for commenting.
December 11, 2007 11:59 AM
mkchen said…
Hey Douglas! Ming in Seattle here. I'm with you on the "could/couldn't" thing. Other pet peeves of mine: "irregardless" instead of regardless, and "consensus of opinion" instead of consensus. Hey, people, we've got a language. Let's use it!

Hope your immune system kicks in soon!
December 13, 2007 7:44 PM
Claire said…
How about 10 items or less in the checkout lane (s/b fewer)? Or borrow vs. lend (Will you borrow me that ruler? No, but I'll lend it to you!)

When I was a kid in High School, we used to joke around with this phrase all the time. I was fond of telling people "Yea, I could care . . . but I won't."

:)

Claire
December 13, 2007 9:03 PM
Soozcat said…
Gahh, I am so with you! I also wince when people say "Nuke-you-lur" instead of "New-clear," and don't even get me started on the written use of "persay" instead of "per se."
December 15, 2007 12:54 AM
D.R. Cootey said…
Thanks, everybody. Love your comments. I'm glad I'm not alone in this one. You bring up some other great pet peeves, too.

I was twittering with Grammar Girl and apparently I've inspired a future tirade for her. ;) Good! She'll set them all straight.
December 15, 2007 8:56 AM
Anonymous said…
I could care more about people who butcher the english language. Lets keep everything positive.
December 17, 2007 7:53 PM
D.R. Cootey said…
It's all in good fun, John. ;)
December 18, 2007 4:24 AM
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