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Word of the Day: Per se
Definition of Per Se
The Latin phrase per se (pronounced ‘per say’) is a common expression used by many English speakers today.
I haven’t covered a Latin term in a long, long time, and it’s high time I did.
The phrase per se comes from Latin and means “by itself” or “in itself.”
When you use ‘per se’ in English, you mean that something is true in itself, without needing any further explanation.
For example, you might say, “Chocolate per se is not unhealthy, but eating too much can be bad for you.”
Here, per se shows that chocolate alone is not the problem.
Everything in moderation applies to chocolate, too.
Sorry to rain on your parade.
How to Use Per Se in Sentences
Per se is often used to make a point clearer.
If you say, “It’s not the rain per se that bothers me, but the wind,” you are explaining that the rain itself is not the issue.
The words per se help you focus on a specific part of the situation.
Examples of Per Se in Modern English
People also use per se in writing and formal speech.
For instance, “The rule per se does not stop you from joining, but there are other requirements.”
In this case, per se means the rule alone is not enough to prevent something.
Tips for Using Per Se Correctly
It’s important to remember that per se should not be overused.
A little Latin goes a long way.
However, using per se can help you be more precise in your communication.
For example, “The movie was not scary per se, but the music made it feel tense,” or “He is not a bad person per se, but he made a mistake.”
Conclusion: The Power of Per Se
In summary, per se means “by itself,” and using “per se” can make your English more exact and clear.
Try using per se in your own sentences to improve your English skills and sound more precise!
Flesch-Kincaid Readability Test
This post is understandable by someone with at least an 8th-grade education (age 13).
On the Flesch-Kincaid reading-ease test, this post scores 70.
The easier a passage is to read, the higher the score on a scale of 0 – 100.