“I Couldn’t Care Less” vs. “I Could Care Less”: Learn the Difference

Do you ever come across the phrase I could care less? Or maybe you’ve even used this expression yourself. While undeniably common, is it correct?

If you want to express indifference about something while being as grammatically accurate as possible, you should know that I could care less is highly debated despite its popularity.

Below, we’ll cover the difference between I could care less and I couldn’t care less, so you can understand why one is favored over the other.

“I Couldn’t Care Less” Meaning

I couldn’t care less is equivalent to saying I don’t care. It’s a phrase that succinctly expresses that you are not concerned about something. Bear in mind that it can be considered rude and snarky.

You can remember that these two phrases are synonymous because both couldn’t and don’t end with “n’t.” Remember, couldn’t means could not, and don’t means do not.

When someone says I couldn’t care less, that means they care so little about something that it would be impossible for them to care any less.

Keep this visual in mind to help you remember what “I couldn’t care less” means.
If someone says I could care less, it means that they do care, and it’s possible for them to care less than they currently do. If you break down the semantics of the phrase, I could care less is the same as saying I care.

However, using the phrase I could care less to mean I don’t care is so common that Merriam-Webster has added it as a variant of I couldn’t care less.

According to Merriam-Webster, I couldn’t care less is undoubtedly the original phrase, gaining popularity during the 1940s. I could care less did not become a variant until sometime after.
“I could care less” started gaining prevalence during the 1960s.

So, Which Phrase Should You Use?

Our advice to you is to stick with the original (and correct) phrase: I couldn’t care less.

Sure, I could care less is technically a variant, but it can be considered as discreditable as using literally to mean figuratively.

Both phrases sound similar, so we don’t blame you if you have a hard time remembering which is correct. Just keep in mind that I couldn’t care less means I don’t care (and both contain “n’t”)

I couldn’t care less and I could care less are hardly the only phrases native speakers and language learners struggle with. How can you be sure to avoid other embarrassing slip-ups?

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