Per Se vs Per Say (2026): Simple Difference, Meaning, Examples, and Correct Usage

Many people get confused between per se and per say because they sound exactly the same when spoken.

You may hear someone say a sentence like:

“The problem isn’t the phone per se.”

When people hear this phrase, they often assume it is spelled per say because that spelling seems logical in English.

However, only one form is correct in standard English.

Understanding the difference is important because using the wrong spelling can make your writing look less accurate, especially in school assignments, emails, reports, and professional communication.

The good news is that the difference is very simple. Once you learn it, you will probably never confuse the two again.

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Quick Answer

Term	Correct?	Meaning
Per se	✅ Yes	By itself; in itself; inherently
Per say	❌ No	Incorrect spelling of per se

In simple words:

• Per se is the correct phrase.
• Per say is a spelling mistake.
• Use per se when you mean “by itself” or “not specifically.”
• Never use per say in formal writing.

Example

Sentence	Correct?
The issue is not the cost per se.	✅
The issue is not the cost per say.	❌

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Where Does “Per Se” Come From?

The phrase per se comes from Latin.

You do not need to know Latin to use it correctly, but understanding its background can help explain why the spelling looks unusual.

Latin Phrase	Basic Meaning
Per se	By itself
Per se	In itself
Per se	Essentially

Because the phrase came from another language, its spelling stayed the same even after English speakers started using it.

That is why it is written per se, not per say.

Many English words and phrases come from older languages, and some keep their original spelling.

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Per Se vs Per Say: What Is the Difference?

The difference is actually very easy.

Feature	Per Se	Per Say
Real English phrase	✅ Yes	❌ No
Correct spelling	✅ Yes	❌ No
Used in writing	✅ Yes	❌ No
Found in dictionaries	✅ Yes	❌ No
Means “by itself”	✅ Yes	❌ No

Per Se

Per se means:

• By itself
• In itself
• On its own
• Not necessarily the main thing being discussed

Example:

The movie was not bad per se; it was just too long.

Meaning:

The movie itself was not bad. The length was the problem.

Per Say

Per say has no accepted meaning in standard English.

It usually appears because people spell the phrase according to how it sounds.

Example:

The movie was not bad per say.

This is considered incorrect.

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Comparison Table

The table below shows the main differences at a glance.

Question	Per Se	Per Say
Is it correct English?	Yes	No
Is it a real phrase?	Yes	No
Can it be used in essays?	Yes	No
Can it be used in emails?	Yes	No
Can it be used in business writing?	Yes	No
Does it appear in dictionaries?	Yes	No
Does it mean “by itself”?	Yes	No
Should students learn it?	Yes	No
Common spelling mistake?	No	Yes
Recommended for formal writing?	Yes	No

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Which One Should You Use?

The answer is simple.

Situation	What to Use
School assignment	Per se
Essay	Per se
Email	Per se
Social media	Per se
Work report	Per se
Casual conversation	Per se
Formal writing	Per se

Rule to Remember

If you want to write the phrase, always choose:

✅ Per se

Never choose:

❌ Per say

A helpful memory trick is:

“Se” is the correct ending. “Say” is only how it sounds.

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Common Mistakes People Make

Many learners make the same mistakes.

Here are the most common ones.

Mistake	Correct Version
Per say	Per se
Persay	Per se
Per-say	Per se
Persee	Per se
Per saye	Per se

Mistake 1: Writing What You Hear

Because both words sound the same, people often write:

Per say

Instead write:

Per se

Mistake 2: Avoiding the Phrase Completely

Some people stop using the phrase because they are unsure about the spelling.

That is not necessary.

Just remember:

Per se = correct

Mistake 3: Using It Too Often

Even though it is correct, using it in every paragraph can sound unnatural.

Use it only when it helps explain that something is being discussed “by itself.”

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Everyday Real-Life Examples

The phrase appears in many everyday situations.

In Emails

Example	Meaning
The delay is not a problem per se.	The delay itself is not the main problem.
The budget is not the issue per se.	Something else is causing the problem.

Example Email Sentence

The software is not the issue per se; the training process needs improvement.

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In News Articles

Example	Meaning
Inflation is not the concern per se.	Inflation itself is not the whole concern.
Technology is not harmful per se.	Technology itself is not harmful.

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On Social Media

Example	Meaning
I’m not against the idea per se.	I do not completely oppose it.
The game isn’t bad per se.	The game itself isn’t bad.

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In Daily Conversations

Example	Meaning
Coffee isn’t unhealthy per se.	Coffee itself is not necessarily unhealthy.
The trip wasn’t expensive per se.	The cost itself wasn’t the issue.
The teacher isn’t strict per se.	The teacher isn’t exactly strict.

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Learning Section for Students and Beginners

If you are a student or English learner, focus on these simple points.

Remember	Why It Matters
Per se is correct	It is the real phrase
Per say is incorrect	It is a spelling mistake
It means “by itself”	Helps understand usage
Use it carefully	Avoid overusing it
Learn common examples	Makes it easier to remember

Easy Practice

Choose the correct option.

1. The price is not the problem _____.
2. The book is not difficult _____.
3. The idea is not bad _____.

Answers:

1. Per se
2. Per se
3. Per se

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Is “per say” ever correct?

No.

Standard English uses per se. The spelling per say is considered incorrect.

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2. What does “per se” mean?

It usually means:

• By itself
• In itself
• On its own

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3. Why do people write “per say”?

Because that is how the phrase sounds when spoken.

People often spell it according to pronunciation.

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4. Can I use “per se” in school essays?

Yes.

It is accepted in formal and academic writing when used correctly.

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5. Is “per se” formal or informal?

It works in both formal and informal situations.

You may see it in essays, news articles, emails, and conversations.

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6. Can I replace “per se” with simpler words?

Often yes.

Depending on the sentence, you can use:

Per Se	Possible Alternative
Per se	By itself
Per se	In itself
Per se	On its own

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7. Is “per se” commonly used?

Yes.

It is a fairly common phrase in everyday English.

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8. How can I remember the correct spelling?

Use this memory tip:

Per se is the real phrase. Per say is just how it sounds.

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Conclusion

The confusion between per se and per say comes from pronunciation. Both sound the same when spoken, which causes many people to write the phrase incorrectly.

The rule is simple:

Phrase	Use It?
Per se	✅ Yes
Per say	❌ No

Remember that per se is the correct Latin phrase used in English. It means “by itself,” “in itself,” or “on its own.” The spelling per say is simply a common mistake.

Whenever you are writing an essay, email, social media post, report, or message, choose per se. Once you remember that small spelling difference, the confusion disappears completely.