“Per se” is correct. “Per say” is a misspelling and is not recognized in any standard dictionary or style guide.
The phrase per se comes from Latin and means “by itself” or “in and of itself.” Because it sounds exactly like “per say,” many writers accidentally spell it incorrectly, but per se is the only accepted form.
The confusion happens because both sound identical in everyday speech. But in writing, only “per se” is accurate — and using “per say” immediately signals a spelling error to any careful reader.
What Does “Per Se” Mean?
“Per se” is a Latin phrase that literally means “by itself” or “intrinsically.” It is used to describe something considered on its own terms — separate from outside factors, context, or comparisons.
Example: “I don’t dislike the beach per se — I just hate getting sand everywhere.”
The phrase entered English directly from Classical Latin — where per means “through” or “by” and se means “itself” or “oneself.” It has been used in formal English legal and philosophical writing since at least the 16th century — and in everyday American English conversation for well over a century.
Common uses of “per se” in everyday writing:
- “It is not the price per se that bothers me — it is the lack of transparency.”
- “The rule is not wrong per se, but it needs updating.”
- “She is not a bad manager per se — she just lacks experience with remote teams.”
“Per Se” Across Different Writing Contexts
In every case, “per se” does the same job — it isolates the thing being described and says: on its own, by itself, as a standalone consideration.
What Does “Per Say” Mean?
“Per say” means nothing. It is not a real phrase.
It is a phonetic misspelling of “per se” — written the way the phrase sounds when spoken aloud. Because “se” in Latin is pronounced like the English word “say,” people who have only ever heard the phrase — and never seen it written — naturally spell it “per say.”
It looks reasonable. It sounds right. But it is wrong.
Why “Per Say” Is So Common
“Per say” in writing always signals one thing — that the writer learned this phrase by ear and never verified its spelling. In formal, academic, legal, or professional writing, that is a credibility-damaging error.
The fix is simple: every time you want to write “per say” — write “per se” instead.
Per Se vs. Per Say — Key Differences That Actually Matter
There is only one real difference here — one is correct and one is not. But understanding why helps you remember it permanently.
The Latin Origin Makes the Spelling Unmistakable
“Per se” comes directly from Classical Latin. In Latin, se is a reflexive pronoun meaning “itself,” “himself,” “herself,” or “themselves.” It appears in dozens of English words and phrases borrowed from Latin:
Seeing “per se” in this family of Latin phrases makes it immediately clear — the “se” is a Latin word with a specific meaning. “Per say” is simply what happens when that Latin origin is unknown.
Pronunciation Is the Trap
“Per se” is pronounced “pur say” in modern American English. That pronunciation is why the misspelling exists — and why it persists.
The “se” in Latin was originally pronounced “say” in the way English speakers borrowed it. So the word sounds like “say” — but it is spelled “se.” This is the entire source of the confusion, and it is completely understandable.
The rule is simple: If it sounds like “per say” — write “per se.”
Side-by-Side Examples: Per Se vs. Per Say in Real Sentences
Seeing the correct phrase in real sentences is the fastest way to build the right habit. These examples show exactly how “per se” works — and what “per say” would look like if someone mistakenly used it.
“Per Se” Used Correctly — Clear Examples
- “The problem is not the workload per se — it is the lack of support.”
- “He is not dishonest per se, but he is not always transparent either.”
- “The dress is not expensive per se, but we cannot afford it this month.”
- “It is not illegal per se — but it does violate the terms of service.”
- “I do not dislike the idea per se — I just think the timing is wrong.”
In every sentence above, “per se” signals: not in and of itself — but with qualifications. It softens a statement without completely reversing it.
How “Per Say” Looks in Writing — and Why It Stands Out
- ~~”The problem is not the workload per say.”~~ — Misspelling. Signals unfamiliarity with the phrase.
- ~~”It is not illegal per say.”~~ — Misspelling. Undermines the formality of a legal statement.
- ~~”I don’t hate it per say.”~~ — Misspelling. In casual writing, some readers may overlook it — but it is still wrong.
There is no context — casual, formal, or creative — where “per say” is the correct spelling.
Same Sentence, Two Spellings — How One Version Damages Credibility
Correct: “The policy is not unfair per se — but it disproportionately affects junior employees.”
Incorrect: ~~”The policy is not unfair per say — but it disproportionately affects junior employees.”~~
Same sentence. Same meaning intended. But the second version tells a careful reader — editor, professor, lawyer, or employer — that the writer does not know this phrase well enough to spell it correctly.
Why Is It Per Se and Not Per Say?
“Per se” has been the correct spelling in English since the phrase was first borrowed from Latin. It appeared in English legal texts as early as the 16th century — long before modern American spelling conventions existed. The phrase was always written as “per se” because it was understood to be a Latin expression — not an English one.
“Per say” has never appeared in any dictionary, legal text, grammar guide, or style manual as a correct spelling. It is an entirely modern phenomenon — driven by the rise of informal digital writing, where people type phrases phonetically without checking their origins.
A Google Trends analysis shows that searches for “per say” spike consistently — suggesting millions of writers encounter this confusion regularly. But editorial standards across journalism, law, academia, and publishing have never accepted “per say” as valid.
The bottom line: “per se” is Latin. “Per say” is a typo that went viral.
Common Mistakes Writers Make with “Per Se”
These are the most frequent errors beyond the basic misspelling — and how to correct each one.
FAQs — Per Say or Per Se
What is the meaning of per se?
“Per se” is a Latin phrase meaning “by itself” or “intrinsically.” In English, it is used to describe something considered on its own terms — separate from outside factors or context. It often softens a statement: “I do not dislike the idea per se — I just think the timing is wrong” means the idea itself is not the problem.
What is the meaning of “se”?
“Se” is a Latin reflexive pronoun meaning “itself,” “himself,” “herself,” or “themselves.” It appears in several English phrases borrowed from Latin — including “per se” (by itself) and legal terms like “se defendendo” (in self-defense). It is not a standalone English word — it only appears in borrowed Latin expressions.
Why is it called per se?
“Per se” is called what it is because it comes directly from Classical Latin — where per means “by” or “through” and se means “itself.” The phrase was borrowed into English legal and philosophical writing in the 16th century and has retained its original Latin spelling ever since. It was never anglicized — which is exactly why the spelling surprises people who have only ever heard it spoken.
Why is it per se and not per say?
Because “per say” is not a word or phrase in any language. “Per se” is a Latin expression — and se is the Latin word for “itself.” It happens to sound like the English word “say” in modern American pronunciation — which is the entire source of the confusion. But the spelling has always been “per se” in every dictionary, style guide, legal text, and grammar reference ever published. “Per say” is a phonetic misspelling with no historical, grammatical, or linguistic basis.
Conclusion
“Per se” is the only correct spelling. “Per say” is a misspelling — nothing more, nothing less.
The confusion exists because the phrase sounds like “per say” when spoken aloud — but it comes from Latin, where se means “itself.” That single fact explains the spelling and makes it easy to remember permanently.
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