12 Other Ways to Say “I Don’t Care”

Has someone just told you about something you’re not interested in?

What’s a nice way to let them know you’re not interested rather than “I don’t care?” Clearly, “I don’t care” isn’t the most polite phrase.

Luckily, this article is here to help! We’ll share some of the best things to say instead of “I don’t care.”

Other Ways to Say “I Don’t Care”

  • I don’t think this applies to me
  • Should I care about that?
  • I’m not sure I care
  • I’m not bothered by that
  • Okay, and?
  • What’s that got to do with me?
  • I don’t think that’s any of my business
  • It’s of no interest to me
  • That’s irrelevant
  • What’s the point in me knowing this?
  • Do you see my care face?
  • I couldn’t care less

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • “I don’t care” is obviously very rude, meaning it doesn’t work well in formal (or friendly) situations.
  • Try using “I don’t think this applies to me” to add a more professional tone to the phrase.
  • “Should I care about that?” is a great informal alternative that phrases “I don’t care” as a question.

As you can see, there are plenty of options available. Keep reading to find out more about the best ones. We’ll show you both a professional and funny way to say I don’t care.

You can also find out more about whether “I don’t care” is rude at the end. We’ve included a full section explaining all there is to know.

I Don’t Think This Applies to Me (Formal)

“I don’t think this applies to me” is a professional way to say “I don’t care.” You should use it as a formal alternative for letting someone know you’re not the intended target for some information.

Generally, “I don’t care” is very dismissive and rude. However, “I don’t think this applies to me” shows an understanding of the situation. This makes it more effective when trying to sound respectful and polite.

It will work best when emailing employers who might have sent you incorrect information. It can also work if you’ve been CC’d into an email that you don’t have any interest in, as it has no relevant information for you.

You should certainly use “I don’t think this applies to me” in business emails over “I don’t care.” It’s always going to be the more effective choice, making it the superior option in nearly every written context.

Here are a few useful examples to help you understand more about it:

Dear Oscar,

I do apologize, but I don’t think this applies to me. I believe you have sent it to the wrong person.

All the best,
Gert

Dear Betty,

I don’t think this applies to me. I understand why you think it might, but you should find someone else to help.

Kindest regards,
Jonathan

Should I Care About That? (Informal)

“Should I care about that?” is an informal question you can use to make a joke about the situation you don’t care for.

It suggests you have no interest in the situation and want to ask the writer or speaker why they told you about it.

You’ll have more luck with a question like this in conversational situations. For example, you might want to ask a colleague why they’ve shared information that clearly doesn’t have any relevance to you.

Since it’s a question, it is not very confident. This means it doesn’t work well in formal English. You should avoid using it in formal emails because it won’t make you look very professional and clued-in.

These examples will help you understand more about it:

Wait, should I care about that? It seems like this is more of a problem for you than me.

Should I care about that, though? I haven’t managed to find a reason to do so!

Is It Rude to Say “I Don’t Care”?

“I don’t care” is quite rude in most contexts. You should be careful using it in any situation, but it’s especially negative in formal contexts.

If you want to sound polite or professional, you should not use “I don’t care.” Why? Well, it comes across as ignorant and inappropriate. That makes it hard to get away with in most formal contexts.

If that’s not enough to dissuade you, perhaps an example will help.

For instance, your boss just asked you to do a non-essential task. Now, since it’s non-essential, you don’t see why you need to do it. However, if you say “I don’t care,” you’ll let your boss know that you aren’t diligent or hard-working. That’ll put you in a tricky situation.

Can you see why it’s a problem now?

We highly encourage using an alternative to “I don’t care” in most professional contexts. It’s not worth the backlash.

Of course, you should bookmark this page in case you ever need to know alternatives for “I don’t care” again. You never know when they might apply to you!