“Per se” is a Latin phrase that translates to “by itself” or “in itself.” It is commonly used in English to emphasize that something is being considered in isolation, without regard to anything else that might be associated with it. For example, when someone says, “The idea isn’t bad per se, but it needs more development,”
they mean that the idea on its own is not bad, but there might be other aspects that need work. The phrase “per se” comes directly from Latin, where “per” means “by” or “through,” and “se” is a reflexive pronoun1 meaning “itself,” “himself,” “herself,” or “themselves.” Its use in English dates back to the Middle Ages, where it was originally used in legal and philosophical texts.
As an adverb, “per se” is used to indicate that a statement is true when considering something on its own, without other factors or influences. It is often used to clarify or refine a point being made. It’s commonly seen in legal, academic, and philosophical writing but is also prevalent in everyday language.
While “per se” is primarily used as an adverb, it can also function in an adjectival sense2, although less commonly. In such cases, it modifies a noun by implying that the noun possesses a quality inherently or intrinsically. If you’re looking for alternatives to the phrase “per se,” there are several words and phrases that can convey a similar meaning, depending on the context.
Alternatives
- In itself: Emphasizes the intrinsic quality of something. Example: “The idea, in itself, isn’t bad.”
- By itself: Highlights something considered alone. Example: “The problem, by itself, isn’t serious.”
- As such: Often used to clarify that a term or statement is being taken in its literal sense. Example: “There isn’t a rule, as such, but it’s generally accepted.”
- On its own: Indicates something standing alone without external factors. Example: “The project, on its own, is impressive.”
- In and of itself: A more emphatic way to say “in itself.” Example: “The proposal, in and of itself, is solid.”
- Intrinsically: Refers to the inherent nature of something. Example: “The plan isn’t flawed intrinsically.”
- By definition: Implies something is true based on its nature or classification. Example: “This isn’t illegal by definition, but it’s unethical.”
- Specifically: Used to narrow down or emphasize a particular point. Example: “He wasn’t angry, specifically, just frustrated.”
- In essence: Summarizes the core nature of something. Example: “The argument, in essence, is about fairness.”
- Fundamentally: Focuses on the basic nature or underlying principles. Example: “The issue, fundamentally, is one of trust.”
Sentences
- The solution wasn’t perfect, per se, but it was the best option available.
- The book, per se, isn’t controversial, but its interpretations are.
- He’s not a villain per se; he just makes questionable decisions.
- The job is not difficult per se, but it requires a lot of patience.
- Her performance, per se, wasn’t bad, but it lacked enthusiasm.
- The law, per se, isn’t unjust, but it’s applied inconsistently.
- The machine isn’t broken per se; it just needs recalibration.
- The argument, per se, is sound, but it ignores some key facts.
- The movie isn’t a horror film per se, but it has some scary moments.
- It’s not a lie per se, but it’s certainly misleading.
- The policy isn’t flawed per se, but its implementation is problematic.
- She didn’t break the rules per se, but she did bend them.
- The art, per se, isn’t bad; it’s just not to my taste.
- The city isn’t dangerous per se, but certain areas should be avoided.
- It’s not illegal per se, but it’s definitely unethical.
- He’s not a genius per se, but he has some brilliant ideas.
- The music isn’t classical per se, but it’s heavily influenced by it.
- The concept isn’t new per se, but it’s been reimagined in a fresh way.
- The plan isn’t faulty per se, but it lacks detailed execution.
- It’s not a crime per se, but it’s certainly against the rules.
Alt Sentences
- The solution, in itself, is effective, but it needs more refinement.
- The idea, by itself, isn’t revolutionary, but it’s a good start.
- The movie isn’t a comedy, as such, but it has humorous moments.
- The book, on its own, isn’t groundbreaking, but it’s well-written.
- The argument, in and of itself, is valid, but it lacks context.
- The policy isn’t problematic intrinsically, but its execution is flawed.
- This isn’t illegal by definition, but it certainly raises ethical concerns.
- He wasn’t upset, specifically, but he was visibly disappointed.
- In essence, the debate is about finding common ground.
- The disagreement is fundamentally about different perspectives.
“Per say” is a common misspelling or mishearing of “per se.” It is not grammatically or linguistically correct, as “say” in this context does not convey the intended meaning. In summary, always use “per se” when you want to convey the idea of something in its own right or by itself.
Footnotes
- A reflexive pronoun is a type of pronoun that is used when the subject and the object of a sentence are the same entity. In English, reflexive pronouns are formed by adding “-self” or “-selves” to personal pronouns, such as “myself,” “yourself,” “himself,” “herself,” “itself,” “ourselves,” “yourselves,” and “themselves.” These pronouns are used to indicate that the action of the verb is performed by the subject upon itself, as in the sentence “She taught herself to play the piano.” Reflexive pronouns are essential for clarity and emphasis in sentences where the subject acts on itself. ↩︎
- The adjectival sense refers to the use of a word, phrase, or clause as an adjective, meaning it functions to modify a noun or pronoun by providing more information about it. When a word is used in an adjectival sense, it describes qualities, states, or attributes of the noun it accompanies. For example, in the phrase “the running water,” the word “running” is used in an adjectival sense to describe the type of water. Similarly, relative clauses, such as “who is tall” in “the man who is tall,” function in an adjectival sense because they describe or qualify the noun “man.” ↩︎
Further Reading
Sources
- The Readable Blog “How to correctly use ‘per se’” https://readable.com/blog/how-to-correctly-use-per-se/
- Wikipedia “per se” https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/per_se
- Language Tool ““Per Se” vs. “Per Say”: Which is Correct?” https://languagetool.org/insights/post/per-se-or-per-say/
- Grammerist “Per Se or Per Say – Usage, Meaning & Examples” https://grammarist.com/usage/per-se/
