When you hear someone say “per se,” it can sound exactly like “per say.” That pronunciation is the main reason English learners—and even native speakers sometimes write the wrong version. If you have ever wondered whether per se vs per say is correct, the answer is straightforward: per se is the correct expression. “Per say” is a common misspelling caused by the way the phrase sounds.
The expression per se comes from Latin and means “by itself,” “in itself,” or “intrinsically.” It is used when you want to describe something on its own, rather than as part of a larger situation. In this guide, you’ll learn the difference between per se and per say, when to use the expression, common mistakes to avoid, and plenty of practical examples.
Quick Answer
Per se is the correct spelling. It is a Latin phrase meaning “by itself,” “in itself,” or “intrinsically.” Per say is incorrect and usually occurs because per se sounds similar when spoken aloud. Use per se when discussing something considered independently.
Why People Confuse It
The confusion between per se vs per say is mostly caused by pronunciation.
When spoken naturally, per se sounds approximately like “per say.” Someone who has heard the expression but has never seen it written may reasonably assume that per say is the correct spelling.
There is also a meaning-related reason for the confusion. The word say is extremely common in English, while se is not normally used as an English word. This makes “per say” look more familiar.
However, the expression comes from Latin, so its spelling does not follow ordinary English pronunciation.
Per Se
Per se is a Latin expression that means:
- by itself
- in itself
- intrinsically
- considered independently
It is used when you want to separate one thing from its surrounding circumstances.
Examples
- The job isn’t difficult per se, but the long hours are exhausting.
- There’s nothing wrong with coffee per se.
- The idea isn’t bad per se, but it needs more planning.
- He wasn’t angry per se; he was simply disappointed.
In each sentence, per se means something like “in itself” or “considered on its own.”
Pronunciation
Per se is commonly pronounced approximately:
/pər ˈseɪ/
That pronunciation is why people often mistakenly spell it per say.
Per Say
Per say is not the standard spelling of the expression.
If you see “per say” used where someone means per se, it is generally a spelling error.
For example:
❌ The plan isn’t expensive per say.
✅ The plan isn’t expensive per se.
The word say is a legitimate English word, of course, but it does not form the standard expression per se.
Comparison Table
| Expression | Correct? | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| per se | ✅ Yes | By itself; in itself | The idea isn’t bad per se. |
| per say | ❌ No | Incorrect spelling of per se | Avoid this spelling. |
| in itself | ✅ Yes | Independently considered | The rule isn’t harmful in itself. |
| by itself | ✅ Yes | Alone or independently | The tool isn’t dangerous by itself. |
When to Use Each
Use “Per Se”
Use per se when you want to emphasize that you are considering something independently or in its own nature.
For example:
The speaker isn’t saying working from home is difficult in itself. The difficulty comes from another factor.
Don’t Use “Per Say”
Avoid per say when you mean “in itself.”
Instead, write per se.
A Simple Test
If you can replace the expression with “in itself” without changing the meaning, per se is probably appropriate.
The movie wasn’t boring per se.
→ The movie wasn’t boring in itself.
Per Se Examples
Here are more examples showing how per se works in everyday English.
- The restaurant isn’t expensive per se, but the portions are small.
- There’s nothing wrong with being ambitious per se.
- The task isn’t complicated per se; it just takes time.
- I don’t dislike him per se, but we don’t have much in common.
- The rule isn’t unfair per se, although it can produce strange results.
- She wasn’t upset per se; she was worried about what might happen next.
- The book isn’t difficult per se, but its vocabulary is advanced.
- Technology isn’t harmful per se; how people use it matters.
- The proposal isn’t unrealistic per se, but it would require a large budget.
- There’s nothing unusual about the request per se.
- The weather wasn’t bad per se, but the strong wind made traveling difficult.
- He isn’t a bad manager per se, but he could communicate more clearly.
- The decision wasn’t wrong per se, but the timing was questionable.
- I’m not opposed to change per se; I just want to understand the plan.
- The problem isn’t the software per se but the way it was configured.
Common Mistakes
1. Writing “Per Say”
This is the most common error.
❌ The idea is not foolish per say.
✅ The idea is not foolish per se.
2. Thinking “Per Se” Means “For Example”
Per se does not mean “for example.”
It means “in itself” or “by itself.”
3. Using It When You Mean “Personally”
Per se does not mean “personally.”
For example:
❌ Per se, I don’t like the movie.
If you mean your personal opinion, simply say:
✅ Personally, I don’t like the movie.
4. Overusing the Expression
Although per se is correct, it can sound unnecessarily formal when a simpler phrase works.
Instead of:
You could simply say:
Both are grammatically correct.
Memory Trick
Here’s an easy way to remember per se vs per say:
Se = itself.
Think:
If you’re tempted to write “per say,” remember that the expression is borrowed from Latin, so its spelling is se, not say.
Another quick trick:
Per se → “per itself.”
That isn’t a literal translation, but it can help you remember the correct spelling.
American vs British English
Per se is standard in both American and British English.
There is no major difference in spelling between the two varieties.
You may encounter per se in academic writing, journalism, professional communication, legal contexts, and everyday conversation in both American and British English.
The pronunciation may vary slightly depending on the speaker’s accent, but the spelling remains:
per se
Not:
per say
Similar Words
Several expressions can communicate a similar idea to per se.
- In itself — considered independently
- By itself — independently or alone
- Intrinsically — as an inherent quality
- Essentially — in its basic nature
- By its very nature — because of what something fundamentally is
- Inherently — naturally or fundamentally
- Strictly speaking — when making a precise distinction
Example
The policy isn’t harmful per se.
Similar:
- The policy isn’t harmful in itself.
- The policy isn’t inherently harmful.
- The policy isn’t harmful by its very nature.
The best alternative depends on the exact context.
FAQs:
Is “per se” or “per say” correct?
Per se is correct. Per say is a common misspelling caused by the pronunciation of per se.
What does “per se” mean?
Per se means “by itself,” “in itself,” or “intrinsically.” It refers to something considered independently from other factors.
Is “per se” English or Latin?
Per se is a Latin phrase that has become a standard expression in English.
How do you pronounce “per se”?
It is commonly pronounced approximately “per say.” This pronunciation explains why per say is such a common spelling mistake.
Can I use “per se” in formal writing?
Yes. Per se is widely used in formal and professional writing, although simpler alternatives such as “in itself” may sometimes be clearer.
Is “per se” grammatically correct?
Yes. Per se is a standard English expression used to indicate that something is being considered independently.
What is another word for “per se”?
Depending on the context, alternatives include “in itself,” “by itself,” “intrinsically,” and “inherently.”
Final Verdict
When choosing between per se vs per say, there is only one standard spelling: per se.
Use per se when you mean “in itself,” “by itself,” or “considered independently.” The spelling per say is incorrect when used as this expression.
The pronunciation can make the mistake understandable, but once you remember that per se is a Latin phrase, the correct spelling becomes much easier to recognize.
Remember This
Per se = correct ✅
Per say = incorrect ❌
If you mean “in itself” or “by itself,” always write per se.
Conclusion
Understanding per se vs per say is mainly a matter of recognizing the correct spelling. Although per se sounds like “per say,” the standard expression is written per se because it comes from Latin. It means “in itself,” “by itself,” or “intrinsically,” and it is used when something is considered independently.
Once you connect per se with the phrase “in itself,” the distinction becomes simple. If you’re writing an essay, email, article, or professional report, choose per se rather than the commonly mistaken per say.
