Poor Grammar. Why Do People Use Expressions like "I COULD Care Less", for Example?

Question

I "could" care less means you actually care, even if just a little. Why do people now say "hating on" rather than just "hating"? On? On what? A donkey? Why do some people begin sentences with the word "So"? The word is a conjunction, like "and", "but" and "because". Don't they teach these things in primary school anymore? If not, why not?

IncognitoBandito · Accepted Answer

If you would think for a second (which 99% of the people who comment on this topic never do) you would realize the phrase "I couldn't care less" makes no logical sense. If it is to be taken literally it means you have reached 0% caring on the given subject or total apathy, and if that were true then why are you even bothering to acknowledge the subject at all? A person who has total apathy would just wave you off and not even acknowledge the subject-- bothering to reply means you heard the subject, processed it in your brain and tried to come off as not giving a damn about it by saying "I couldn't care less", which is b. s. because just acknowledging the question means you care a little.

With "I could care less" the phrase can be taken sarcastically, as in, "I suppose this could be more meaningless to me, but not by much." Sorry for the lecture, but it infuriates me when everybody mindlessly parrots the I couldn't care less position when 5 seconds of thought would tell you it's idiotic.

MrShaun · Accepted Answer

I may not correct someone but poor grammar, either verbally or in writing, is reflective a lower education. Then, to make matters worse, these same people can have a tendency of using vulgarities and think there's nothing wrong with it.

If you want to come across as knowing anything, use proper grammar and lose the vulgarities. If you're writing, make sure to use the correct spelling and punctuation.

tatianamay · Accepted Answer

Its "I couldn't care less"

I'm very particular about framing my sentences using proper grammar. I'm afraid that people would judge me if my sentences aren't properly structured. But when native English speakers confuse "your" with "you're" it just irks me (I'm not a native English speaker). I know that its weird, but I would never judge someone for their poor grammar. I only judge people who are full of bullshit.

Buttonss · Accepted Answer

The examples you listed are rather considered informal speech than poor grammar, i think. "Hating on" is used like so: "stop hating on cats" instead of "stop hating cats", its the same meaning, just another way to say it. And using "so" in the beginning of a sentence is just informal, its like adding "like" unnecessarily to a sentence, "so, like, im not sure what to wear" for instance

DryGermanGuy · Answer

My kind of topic! Good language skills (verbally and written) not only show respect for yourself but especially for others. Yes, I can excuse a foreigner speaking broken German (or English), I had to learn foreign languages myself. But native speakers have no excuse.
My list of peeves:
- The superfluous „like“. I stopped watching many YouTube videos because of it. Awful!!!
- The wrong usage of „literally“, when it’s 99.9% not literally.
- „I should of known“, etc. No comment.
- „I could care less“. Already mentioned.
- Then/than, its/it‘s, there/their
- Plural apostrophe (car’s, house’s…). Why?

I probably forgot a few…

loveslongnails · Answer

Thank you for caring about grammar !!

I'd say the least offensive of those is to begin a sentence with "so", are ending one with a preposition !!. When used with the proper punctuation and license, so to speak, it could work. You're correct about misusing "could care less" instead of "couldn't care less". I hear that often and it's a big error. I also hear people using the word "dominate" when it should be "dominant", as in "she or he is a dominant female or male". As for grammar being taught in schools, and what of it if it's even being taught, perhaps some teachers will reply?

I think some of the expressions kids use, liking "hating on" someone, are just fads that become popular. My favorite is "catch feelings", as if it's a disease. LOL I loathe that one ! For some people, it's just not a priority, I suppose.

MCheetah · Answer

Lack of education and lack of care. That drives me nuts too, though. "I could care less" is saying you care too much and that you should care less than you do now. The funny thing is, you're a six foot tall Russian chick saying this. Native English speakers are even worse at English than you can imagine.

I sometimes make mistakes too, but that's only because I'm a fast typer (I mostly use this site on laptop) and this site DOESN'T LET YOU EDIT YOUR F*CKING SH*T! That drives me nuts the most!

exitseven · Answer

The thing that really jumps out at me is that news anchors on TV sometimes use bad grammar. Newspapers and magazines also use both bad grammar and incorrect spelling. Texting has made people lazy and proper English is no longer taught in schools anymore.

ChrisMaster69 · Answer

So what exactly are you’re implying…. Hehe

its true, I think however with forums and other things we tend to type as we speak, which I know I do.

I did for example say today ‘so, what is everyone doing for lunch today? ‘

Yeah it’s totally wrong

Anonymous · Answer

The intellect and gramnar of our nation was at it's peak in the 1950's.
It's been rapidly deteriorating since then.
Jive, ghetto, ebonics and street haven't helped either.
Computers and low mindedness is weakening the nation. It's only going to get worse.

Iknowbestgirls · Answer

To be honest many people, me included, talk on online forums as if they are having an in person conversation. The way I see it is that I'm not writing and English essay. Or a college paper that's going to be graded. The thing is that people having regular everyday conversations with people in person won't talk to each other like they are having a debate. As long there aren't extreme typos and things make sense like I can understand the just of what your trying to say is all I really need.

NicoletteXO · Answer

My pet peeve is when ghetto rats say 'aks' instead of 'ask'. I mean... really?

karaspara · Answer

They don't care what you think of their grammar and also many of these sayings come from a time when the common people were largely illiterate

IAMNathanael · Answer

Maybe a lack of education. I also think sometimes people just say whatever sounds right even if it's not. I'm not stickler about that stuff because I'll usually get the gist of their message.

DonkeyDan · Answer

Poor grammar is just a lack of basic education.  I would however add the exception of the internet, where people just become lazy with grammar, and typos.

Gwenhwyfar · Answer

It’s dialect honey. Don’t flip out. In prestigious MFA programs people pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to learn to write characters who talk that way.

JustinTimberlegs · Answer

Your right. But their many times I do it and I hate it. Sometimes lazy sometimes brain fart Sorry 😇

NathanDavis · Answer

people with flawless grammar... that still won't make any sense whatsoever and they're full of BS anyway... I might get judgy with them...

b5fan · Answer

grammar is fluid and changes frequently. I believe in allowing for freedom of discourse and cultural exchange. So much color is lost when you always follow the rules.

msc545 · Answer

Poor education seems to be a large part of the problem. Some people on here have such poor grammar you can't even tell what they are asking,

NYCQuestions1976 · Answer

Just direct those people in question to view the following public service announcement video:

snackthatsmilesback · Answer

I think "hate on" is just used like "shit on" so yes you could hate on a donkey. And the donkey can just shake it off.

chriscdi · Answer

In my defense I have auto incorrect still on

Cowboy6666 · Answer

Well I am one of them but don't judge me English isn't my first language :P Its been years I have read and touched English book

ChiPaPa · Answer

Reinforcement. Everyone around you uses poor grammar. You tend to pick up what others do.

Kingofkings1992 · Answer

It makes me think they’re not very intelligent when I see it.

Wise4myage · Answer

I agree, and I know couldn't care less is the right grammar.

KevnHanma · Answer

Nobody likes people like you who correct grammar

TrueConfection · Answer

How come?

Starman5 · Answer

One's vocabulary should be broad.

Poor Grammar. Why Do People Use Expressions like "I COULD Care Less", for Example?

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