Mangled phrases

per se

Two Latin words. Neither of them is “say.”

  • It’s not wrong, per say.

    It’s not wrong, per se.

    Latin per se, “by itself.” Two words, S-E.

The phrase

Per se is Latin: per (by, through) + se (itself). It means “in itself” or “intrinsically”—the design isn’t bad per se, it’s just wrong for this.

Per say isn’t anything. It’s what the phrase sounds like when you’ve only ever heard it.

Since it’s a foreign phrase, some style guides italicise it. Nobody will mind either way. They will mind per say.

Now go learn two words of Latin.