How much per say?

[vakkotaur]

per se -- by, of, or in itself; as such; intrinsically (source: Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary.)

I am noticing, with increasing frequency, that per se is being replaced with "per say." While they sound the same, which is the source of the problem, they are different. The term per se is Latin or at least derived from Latin, while "per say" is a pair of English words.

I wonder what "per say" could be used for? Speech that is limited in some way? "You will have your say, but you only have five minutes per say."

Comments

[wordslinger.livejournal.com]

I want to throw rocks at the "per say" group. In fact, I feel that one rock per "say" ought to be about right.

[vakkotaur.livejournal.com]

I like that one. Perhaps too much, but I like it.

per say

[okkaywarner.livejournal.com]

well, it'd be per say in this case:

"I am selling says! It is $5 per say!"

[vaeladven.livejournal.com]

I say 'per say' because it's habbit. I was never actually sure whether the 'se' part was actually spelled 'se' until not too long ago. And spelling it as 'say' was enough to get my point across because it's pronounced the same. :)