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Neurodivergent 10w
The autistic need to explain why “could care less” is correct even though “couldn’t care less” makes more sense
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9
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Anonymous 10w

What. I thought couldn't care less was correct. Why is could care less correct?

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Anonymous 10w

Couldn’t care less is correct. Could care less means that you do care about whatever it is…

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Anonymous 10w

“Couldn’t care less” IS the correct one, you’re just confused OP

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Anonymous 10w

Couldn’t care less is the correct one. It’s saying that you could not care less about something than you already do.

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Anonymous 10w

Could care less is the original terminology and is idiomatic in nature. I didn’t understand the phrase when I was younger so I researched it (I think it was also on an Adam conover episode), but anyway, to care in this context would mean to weigh on or be present in one’s mind or conversation. You care enough to give it thought, you entertain the idea. So “I could care less” more or less meant “I’d rather not talk about it” or “I won’t entertain this/pay it any mind”

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Anonymous replying to -> OP 10w

Younger you researched it incorrectly or remembered it wrong. I just googled it extensively, nobody’s saying “I could care less” is correct. “I could care less” means “I have a certain level of caring that could be lowered further.” “I couldn’t care less” means “I won’t entertain this/pay it any mind”

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Anonymous replying to -> OP 10w

But over time, the implications grew too subtle and it was replaced by its more literal counterpart “I couldn’t care less”. Kind of like how “humor me” doesn’t mean “make me laugh”, or how “break a leg!” isn’t actually a vague threat. It was an idiomatic phrase that couldn’t stick with the times. Out of context, it confused enough people for them to want to change it.

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Anonymous replying to -> OP 10w

Ooh interesting, do you have a source? I’d be interested in reading more cuz I’d always thought it was the other way around

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Anonymous replying to -> #2 10w

It could be correct if the implication is “if you tell me about this, I will care even less than I do now”

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