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per se. according to Webster’s online it means:

as an adverb. :by, of, or in itself or oneself or themselves : as such :

per se. as an adjective. : being such inherently, clearly, or as a matter of law (a per se conflict of interest)

Lately this word has been a thorn in my side. Perhaps nothing larger is bugging me in the American lexicon than the misuse of per se. Well, maybe the assault of their, there and they’re by the Twitter and text community ranks a close second. But today we talk about per se.

Two short words. Or is it one word in two parts? Nevermind. Per se. Per se the restaurant was recently named one of the 10 best restaurants in the world. Which gives me 10-1 odds I will never eat there. I tend to dine at places that don’t make international lists. Per se the restaurant is a very tony place in Manhattan. Its an eatery, per se, that is both very expensive and a bit eclectic if you ask me. From its website

CODDLED SQUIRE HILL FARMS’ AMERAUCANA HEN EGG
Brioche Soldiers and Smoked Onion “Soubise”
with Black Winter Truffle Purée

What the heck does that mean. Each day the restaurant features two unique 9 course menus. Each course is very small, must be French, and is designed so at the height of the experience, the course is finished so you complete it at the apex of the dish. 9 times. huh. Sounds frustrating. Per se.

This little entry has all to do with a co-worker and a friend who insist on using the word(s) per se. One uses it still way too often and incorrect, the other just uses often. This former co-worker used the word so much I wanted to shout out each time she used it. Some of us in that cube farm of an office once joked what a great drinking game that would be. blah blah blah per se blah blah blah. DRINK. We never did. But we laughed. I once kept hashmarks on a dry erase board, she used the word more than a dozen times in a single day.

My friend uses it the word closer to its meaning. Which is better. But the sound of the word in conversation takes me back to the dreaded cube farm where the word gave us a chance to laugh in an environment where laughing was forbidden, along with sighing, talking, or enjoying life at all per se.

I am not a writer, per se, but rather just a guy who tries to find a way to laugh at most things, like bad grammar and overpriced New York City restaurants with trendy names.

Since I am more of a truck stop and burger diner kinda guy, I leave you with this:

“Ignorance per se is not nearly as dangerous as ignorance of ignorance.” ~Sydney J. Harris