“Per say” or “per se”: which is correct?
per se
The short answer
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.
Spelling error
Why people get it wrong
People often mishear or misinterpret the Latin phrase per se as per say because the pronunciation of se sounds similar to say in English.
Examples with per se
- 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.
Quick check
The book isn’t exciting , but it has a lot of useful information.
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.
Spotted a mistake in this article? Tell us