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Say what? Decoding the "per say" mistake
Lloyd Cooper 06/10/2024, 00:56English.me team member
What kind of error is it?
Spelling error
Why do people make this mistake?
People often mishear or misinterpret the Latin phrase "per se" as "per say" because the pronunciation of "se" sounds similar to "say" in English.
What is correct?
"Per se" is the correct term. It is a Latin phrase meaning "by itself" or "in itself". It is used in English to indicate that something is being considered in isolation or on its own.
Examples of correct usage
- The book isn't exciting per se, but it has a lot of useful information.
- It’s not a bad idea per se, but it’s not practical right now.
- The film wasn’t great per se, but the acting was superb.
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