Could or couldn't care less? (degree, grammatical, teacher, vs)
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I almost posted this as a direct reply to a poster in another thread, but I didn't wish to digress from that discussion.
When people talk about an issue and remark "I could care less about ____" shouldn't they really say "I couldn't care less" - afterall, if you could care less then it implies that you have a degree of concern, when in fact you don't.
Quote:
If the man can do the job, I could care less if he buys a piece of paper that says he's smart. Don't get me wrong, I value education, as I am a teacher.
I read this almost everyday on the messageboards and wondered if it was a Charlotte thing, a regional thing...?
I think it is just a commonly misused phrase. Much like saying irregardless, ATM machine, etc. These are not technically correct but everyone knows what they mean.
What drives me nuts is when people incorrectly use the words IS and ARE.
I think it is just a commonly misused phrase. Much like saying irregardless, ATM machine, etc. These are not technically correct but everyone knows what they mean.
What drives me nuts is when people incorrectly use the words IS and ARE.
Two of my pet peeves is 'where' and 'were', and 'there' and 'their'...
I think it is just a commonly misused phrase. Much like saying irregardless, ATM machine, etc. These are not technically correct but everyone knows what they mean.
Thanks for taking the question in the spirit it was intended - I wasn't being pedantic
I just think it's ironic that the misused phrase means the exact opposite of what their feelings are.
I think it is just a commonly misused phrase. Much like saying irregardless, ATM machine, etc. These are not technically correct but everyone knows what they mean.
What drives me nuts is when people incorrectly use the words IS and ARE.
ATM Machine drives me batty!
Megax - I also notice could vs couldn't care less a lot. It's just a common error. It's not a "Charlotte thing" it's a people thing. I've seen speculation that it began as sarcasm and over time became the colloquial term.
Two of my pet peeves is 'where' and 'were', and 'there' and 'their'...
If we're getting into grammatical errors instead of simple everyday misuses, then I'd have to say that a really common mistake is 'use' instead of 'used' eg I use to live in Mint Hill.
I originally thought that it was simply a case of phonetics, but I see it on the messageboards all day long.
After the 3rd or 4th time of making that mistake in her emails, I jokingly brought-up the issue with a good friend of mine. She had been making the mistake for so long that she even claimed that she was right!
This is NOT regional! I hear this from people from all over. It is so common that people think it is correct!
There are so many though that have crept into our everyday speech that many don't notice them.
What bothers me more are the HUGE errors, like misuse of past participles!
Things like:
Should have went....
I seen.....
ARGH!
And then, as a PP mentioned, subject/verb agreement sends me over the edge!
Things like:
There's marbles on the floor.
I want to respond with, "Yes, marbles IS on the floor."
And:
"Help me find a nice place to eat for DH and I."
I want to say, "Well, if you help me find a place for I to eat, I can help you with your DH."
Dawn
Quote:
Originally Posted by Megax
I almost posted this as a direct reply to a poster in another thread, but I didn't wish to digress from that discussion.
When people talk about an issue and remark "I could care less about ____" shouldn't they really say "I couldn't care less" - afterall, if you could care less then it implies that you have a degree of concern, when in fact you don't.
I read this almost everyday on the messageboards and wondered if it was a Charlotte thing, a regional thing...?
Two of my pet peeves is 'where' and 'were', and 'there' and 'their'...
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