Per Se or Per Say: Understanding Correct Usage with Clear Examples
Writers, editors, and even seasoned attorneys sometimes hesitate between “per se” and “per say.” That hesitation is understandable—spoken aloud, the two sound identical, yet only one is correct in formal prose.
This article strips away the ambiguity. You will learn the precise Latin origin, the grammatical role of “per se,” and the exact situations where “per say” creeps in by mistake. Practical examples, quick fixes, and advanced usage tips follow in clearly marked sections.
Etymology and Literal Meaning
The Latin Roots
“Per se” translates literally to “through itself” or “by itself.” The phrase entered English legal Latin in the 1500s and migrated into everyday academic and journalistic writing.
Its two components never change: “per” means “through” or “by,” while “se” is the reflexive pronoun “itself.” Neither word carries any alternate spelling in classical Latin.
Sound-Driven Misspelling
“Per say” is a phonetic ghost; it has no historical standing in any language. The misspelling arises because English spelling rarely reflects pronunciation so transparently. Spell-checkers often overlook “per say” since both component words are individually valid, compounding the error.
Grammatical Role in Modern English
Adverbial Function
Grammarians classify “per se” as an adverbial phrase. It modifies adjectives, verbs, or entire clauses to emphasize inherent rather than circumstantial qualities.
Example: “The policy isn’t restrictive per se, but its side effects are.” Here the phrase zeroes in on the policy’s intrinsic nature, not its external results.
Positioning Flexibility
Unlike many adverbials, “per se” can sit before or after the element it modifies. Both “Money per se doesn’t interest her” and “Money doesn’t interest her per se” remain idiomatic. The choice is stylistic, not grammatical.
Common Contexts and Collocations
Legal Language
Attorneys speak of “negligence per se” when an act is automatically deemed negligent because it violates a statute. This phrase signals that no further proof of duty or breach is required. The shortcut saves judges and juries from redundant argument.
Academic Writing
Philosophy papers often contrast an object “per se” with the observer’s perception. A classic template: “The thing-in-itself, or the table per se, differs from the sensory table we experience.” This usage underscores the noumenon–phenomenon distinction.
Business Reports
Market analysts write, “The decline in revenue is not tied to the product per se but to supply-chain delays.” The phrase isolates the product’s inherent performance from external factors.
Quick Diagnostic Test
Swap Test
Replace “per se” with “inherently” or “by its very nature.” If the sentence still makes sense, the phrase is correctly used. If “per say” breaks the substitution, the spelling is wrong.
Reverse Test
Try rewriting the sentence to remove the phrase entirely. If the core meaning vanishes, “per se” is essential. If the meaning survives, you may be using it superfluously.
Typical Missteps and Fixes
Redundant Coupling
Writers sometimes pair “per se” with “itself,” as in “The idea per se itself is flawed.” The reflexive pronoun is already encoded in “se,” so drop “itself.”
Misplaced Modification
Consider, “He isn’t rude per se to strangers.” The adverbial phrase should sit closer to the adjective: “He isn’t rude to strangers per se.”
Overuse in Casual Copy
Marketing blogs sprinkle “per se” for false sophistication. Readers tire quickly. Reserve the phrase for legal, academic, or technical contexts where precision outweighs brevity.
Advanced Stylistic Choices
Parenthetical Insertion
Legal briefs sometimes wrap “per se” in parentheses to create an inline definition. Example: “The act is negligence (per se) under Vehicle Code § 23152.” The parenthetical signals a term of art.
Em Dash Emphasis
In narrative nonfiction, an em dash can heighten contrast. “The rule—per se—is not discriminatory, yet its impact is.” The dash mirrors spoken cadence without altering meaning.
International English Variations
American vs. British Frequency
Corpus data from the Corpus of Contemporary American English (COCA) shows “per se” appearing 3.2 times per million words in U.S. texts. The British National Corpus logs a slightly lower 2.7 per million, suggesting marginally less popularity in UK prose.
Italicization Norms
Chicago and APA style guides no longer require italics for “per se” because it is now considered naturalized. Oxford and Cambridge still recommend italics in formal academic submissions. Check your house style and stay consistent.
Practical Writing Checklist
Before Publishing
Run a global search for “per say” and replace every instance with “per se.” Then run the swap test on each “per se” to confirm necessity. Finally, verify that the phrase sits adjacent to the word it modifies.
Speech Preparation
When drafting scripts, type “per se” even if you will pronounce it quickly. The visual cue prevents you from writing show notes that later embarrass you online.
Industry-Specific Mini Case Studies
Tech White Paper
A SaaS company once wrote, “Our encryption per say protects data at rest and in transit.” The error survived peer review and appeared in the published PDF. A competitor’s blog mocked the mistake, costing the firm credibility during a funding round.
Medical Journal Abstract
An abstract claimed, “Ibuprofen per se does not cause ulcers, yet chronic use increases risk.” The phrase correctly isolates the drug’s intrinsic properties from dosage-related side effects.
Legal Memorandum
Junior associates drafted, “The violation is negligence per say under 49 C.F.R. § 392.10.” A senior partner caught the misspelling minutes before filing. The redline version became a teaching moment for the entire litigation team.
SEO and Content Marketing Considerations
Keyword Density
Google’s NLP models recognize “per se” as a high-value phrase in legal and academic content. Overstuffing, however, triggers quality-rater flags. A safe density is one occurrence per 300–400 words.
Featured Snippet Potential
Short definitional sentences such as “Per se means ‘by or in itself'” frequently win snippets. Place this definition in an early paragraph and mark it up with tags for emphasis.
Quick Reference Examples
Correct Usage Samples
The clause isn’t unconstitutional per se, but its enforcement might be. Speeding per se establishes a rebuttable presumption of negligence. Art per se cannot be immoral, though its uses can.
Incorrect Usage Samples (Corrected)
❌ “The design, per say, lacks innovation.” ✅ “The design, per se, lacks innovation.” ❌ “Money per say corrupts people.” ✅ “Money per se corrupts people.”
Further Reading and Tools
Authoritative Sources
Garner’s Modern English Usage dedicates two concise columns to “per se” and lists common misuses. The Oxford English Dictionary entry provides dated quotations from 1578 onward. Black’s Law Dictionary offers the precise definition of “negligence per se.”
Browser Extensions
Install the LanguageTool add-on; its Latin phrase checker flags “per say” in Google Docs and WordPress. Set the extension to British or American English to match your style guide.