Comments on: Grammatical Jeopardy – Couldn’t Care Less or Could Care Less

By: Alysson

Alysson — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 00:25:20 +0000

That list could go on indefinitely. Let’s not forget the most infamous massacre of the English language committed by George W. Bush by insisting that the word “nuclear” is actually pronounced “NOO-KYOO-LER”. Really, President McDumbass? I’m certain you’re pronouncing that WRONG.

That said, my ultimate goal is to make a series of “Grammatical Jeopardy” posts.
Alysson´s last blog ..DANGER – Pit Bulls Are MONSTERS!

By: gz

gz — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 00:20:04 +0000

The phrase “could care less” is peculiar to Americans; I have not heard used it by any other English speakers; they would be puzzled as to what was actually meant.

And talking of imbecilic mispronunciations: I hear “mischievous” pronounced MIS-CHEE-VEE-US, “coupon” as KYOO-PON and jewelry as JEW-LA-REE – all obviously wrong (if you can read).

Then there’s the apostrophe or, rather, the malapostrophe! It’s been misused for ages on plural nouns (sorry, noun’s) but now it’s creeping into verbs, e.g. “she let’s the dog out” or “the ball roll’s down the hill”. WTF?

I better stop now.

By: Alysson

Alysson — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 01:49:32 +0000

Agreed. Thanks to the idiocy that is George W. Bush, the word “nucular” is now supposedly accepted as correct, rather than what is actually correct – which is “NUCLEAR”. An imbecile unapologetically mispronouncing a word over and over and over again is apparently enough to render what is incorrect suddenly wholly acceptable. Who knew? I guess it worked with weapons of mass destruction, so why shouldn’t the same nonsensical right-wing approach to manufacturing the facts to fit their purpose work with language and grammar, as well…

By: Gambit

Gambit — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 01:37:54 +0000

Totally agree. Other sites say the incorrect way is now accepted but I’ll go to my grave thinking that people who say “I could care less” are uneducated fools.

By: Alysson

Alysson — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 23:46:36 +0000

I tend to be of like mind with you there, Monica…depending on my audience and purpose of my writing. I completely agree that choosing “could not care less” is more appropriate for business writing. On the other hand, circumstances in which referencing the common phrase is appropriate often present themselves in more informal settings. Opting for the contraction is fine in those instances, provided it is use correctly!

By: Monica Wright

Monica Wright — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 19:25:48 +0000

Which is why I tend NOT to use to contracted version of “couldn’t”, instead use “could not”. Not only is it better for business writing, but it emphasizes the lack of caring in general.
Monica Wright´s last blog ..I Am Only As Good As My Network

By: Tweets that mention Couldn't Care Less or Could Care Less - Grammatical Jeopardy | Alysson Fergison -- Topsy.com

Sat, 16 Jan 2010 05:54:23 +0000

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by remarkablogger, Christina Gleason, Alan Bleiweiss, Kristy Bolsinger, Alysson Fergison and others. Alysson Fergison said: "Grammatical Jeopardy – Couldn't Care Less or Could Care Less" – http://cli.gs/z2zAPY [...]

By: Alysson

Alysson — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 04:01:43 +0000

Thanks! I’m flattered.

By: Stacy Lukasavitz

Stacy Lukasavitz — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 03:53:43 +0000

You had me at “Grammatical Jeopardy.”

As a fellow Grammar Nazi, I appreciate this post.
Stacy Lukasavitz´s last blog ..Be careful whom you “unfriend”

By: Alysson

Alysson — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 03:24:39 +0000

I’m glad you found it useful, Khaled!

By: Khaled Elsehsah

Khaled Elsehsah — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 03:03:23 +0000

Yeah, these kind of topics concern me a lot these days, thanks for the short and nice article. I couldn’t care more what I think to do about my grammar (business writing in general).
Khaled Elsehsah´s last blog ..Remember this

By: Alysson

Alysson — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 01:50:55 +0000

Glad to help. And I’d tend to believe that “grammatically challenged”, rather than “grammatically gifted”. Being gifted insinuates some sort of innate tendency toward being grammatically correct. There’s also a dash of anal-retentive and obsessive-complusive that comes along with being so attentive to details like grammar and punctuation.

By: Alan Bleiweiss

Alan Bleiweiss — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 01:15:16 +0000

Alysson,

It’s so nice of you to help the less grammatically gifted. Or are they the more grammatically challenged?
Alan Bleiweiss´s last blog ..Rent My Torso @ SMX West 2010