Could Or Couldn't ?...

DannyBoy · 02-19-2008, 06:57 PM

GrammarBlog: My biggest "US English" peeve. - A blog about spelling, punctuation and grammar - Grammar Blog

I stumbled upon this a moment ago. And after a silent weep of delight inside I thought I would post it here to judge how many of you say it which way. It remains to this day one of my own personal pet peeves and if I could sway even one person to start saying it "correctly", my day would be just that bit brighter at it's end. What is it to be folks ?... I could care less about your thoughts.

Teri B. · 02-19-2008, 07:42 PM

I always say couldn't. I could NOT care less, meaning there's no way I could care any less than I already do, because I don't care at all.

Irregardless is the one that makes me CRAZY. IT'S NOT A WORD.

DRS112 · 02-19-2008, 07:44 PM

Irregardless of what Teri says, could or couldn't both work. It's the message that the person is trying to convey that matters. And both are pretty much universally accepted.

Irregardless is a word since enough people use it....just like Ginormous.

Bernifickle...is not a word.

Teri B. · 02-19-2008, 07:47 PM

No, "could" is saying you do care, but you could care a little less.

poetrychic · 02-19-2008, 07:50 PM

i always say "i could care less"...with the conjunction it almost seems like a double negative, though teri's explanation works too

i'll stick with could, though

poetrychic · 02-19-2008, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRS112

Irregardless of what Teri says, could or couldn't both work. It's the message that the person is trying to convey that matters. And both are pretty much universally accepted.

Irregardless is a word since enough people use it....just like Ginormous.

Bernifickle...is not a word.

nope, bernifickle is definitely not a word

Free Parking · 02-19-2008, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRS112

Irregardless of what Teri says, could or couldn't both work. It's the message that the person is trying to convey that matters. And both are pretty much universally accepted.

Irregardless is a word since enough people use it....just like Ginormous.

Bernifickle...is not a word.

Bernifickle is a perfectly cromulent word.

DRS112 · 02-19-2008, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Free Parking

Bernifickle is a perfectly cromulent word.

While I admire your mastery of crompulance...Bernifickle is only a word in it's disfompant form of bernifickicy.

Free Parking · 02-19-2008, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRS112

While I admire your mastery of crompulance...Bernifickle is only a word in it's disfompant form of bernifickicy.

I am embiggened by your statement, good sir.

ciaobox2007 · 02-19-2008, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Free Parking

I am embiggened by your statement, good sir.

that's what he said.

02-19-2008, 06:57 PM	#1 (permalink)
DannyBoy ... Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,728 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 1 Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post	Could Or Couldn't ?... GrammarBlog: My biggest "US English" peeve. - A blog about spelling, punctuation and grammar - Grammar Blog I stumbled upon this a moment ago. And after a silent weep of delight inside I thought I would post it here to judge how many of you say it which way. It remains to this day one of my own personal pet peeves and if I could sway even one person to start saying it "correctly", my day would be just that bit brighter at it's end. What is it to be folks ?... I could care less about your thoughts.
	Top

02-19-2008, 07:42 PM	#2 (permalink)
Teri B. Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 6,315 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 36 Thanked 56 Times in 34 Posts	I always say couldn't. I could NOT care less, meaning there's no way I could care any less than I already do, because I don't care at all. Irregardless is the one that makes me CRAZY. IT'S NOT A WORD.
	Top

02-19-2008, 07:44 PM	#3 (permalink)
DRS112 Administrator Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 6,355 My Mood: Thanks: 72 Thanked 116 Times in 86 Posts	Irregardless of what Teri says, could or couldn't both work. It's the message that the person is trying to convey that matters. And both are pretty much universally accepted. Irregardless is a word since enough people use it....just like Ginormous. Bernifickle...is not a word.
	Top

02-19-2008, 07:47 PM	#4 (permalink)
Teri B. Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 6,315 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 36 Thanked 56 Times in 34 Posts	No, "could" is saying you do care, but you could care a little less.
	Top

02-19-2008, 07:50 PM	#5 (permalink)
poetrychic polka~holic Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: an octopus's garden in the shade.... Posts: 3,379 My Mood: Thanks: 125 Thanked 135 Times in 84 Posts	i always say "i could care less"...with the conjunction it almost seems like a double negative, though teri's explanation works too i'll stick with could, though __________________ "it was a creed written into the founding documents that declared the destiny of a nation, yes we can!"
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