to be surprised how many people write 'should of', 'would of' etc on forums?

[Mymblesson]

I would've thought it was easy enough to remember how to write it properly.

Maybe I should've known better.

You even hear people using the wrong versions when speaking these days. One of my work colleagues is a bugger for it.

YABU seriously - who cares?

It is very annoying but it's also an incredibly common mistake so it doesn't really surprise me to see it crop up a lot on MN.

YANBU. It's sloppy. But then I'm a right old pedant about these things...

Perhaps they think that "would've" is wrong and they are right! Just shows what learning English in schools stands for!

It drives me mental. It's completely unacceptable for an adult to have such a poor grasp of the English language.

If I see someone do this on facebook it's cause for instant friend removal.

I also hate 'definately' instead of definitely. Grrr.

YANBU... I care. :) When people learning English as a foreign language use simple grammar more accurately than native speakers, something is seriously awry.

You may find your natural MN home here

It really is rude to start these threads on the other boards.

Some people struggle, it does not make their contribution any less worthwhile. People like you just make them feel less welcome.

YABU. In some dialects it is the norm. If you have not seen it written down then it is an obvious mistake to make. People shouldn't be judged on their spelling and punctuation when posting. If they are sitting their English exams: yes. If they are writing a business letter: yes. Posting on a forum: no. You can't deny people the right to post just because the way they express their opinion is not grammatically perfect.

Cross post Chipping - I agree with you entirely.

YANBU. I find written errors cause me to wince. I am not as fastidious about spoken English though.

It annoys me too, but that is because I am a secret pedant, so I ignore it.

Nobody's denying anybody's right to post anything.

And AIBU is a catch all for things that could and often should be posted in other topics. People post here because they want a wider audience. Pedants' Corner is lovely but populated largely by people who know and care about these things.

It's not judging to wonder why/how common errors crop up. Nobody is saying don't post, nobody is pointing a finger. People rightly wonder how such glaring errors became so commonplace. It's a valid question.

While I understand what you're saying, it is of course, really easy to mis-type things. Also, many people type in 'the vernacular' so I think it quite understandable. The English language is moving and mutating and growing as we speak (and type); in 50 years it may be completely acceptable... Are you trying to hinder progress

It's grating, I'll give you that.

'tis only an abbreviation though and our language is in a constant state of flux, so I think it is to be expected

I suppose some people write as they talk
(they are different skills.)

It seems snobby to infer people should not be on mumsnet if they cant write like Clive James or Jilly Cooper.

Nitpicking should only be done by those with nits.

Shave your head and go upside down in a bath of dettol

(other disinfectants are available, as the BBC announcers are told to say. )

Writing: Do it your way. Lack of posts damages mumsnet.

cheers "Gabby"

When people learning English as a foreign language use simple grammar more accurately than native speakers, something is seriously awry.

Indeed. My wife is Polish and has no trouble with it, either written or spoken.

It really is rude to start these threads on the other boards.

Rubbish. That's what 'Am I being unreasonable?' is for.

In some dialects it is the norm.

Is it? 'Might of' doesn't actually mean anything. It's pure nonsense.

What drives me mad is the amount of people who don't know the difference between lose and loose

It really gets my goat too. But I think perhaps you should move over to Pedants' Corner.

I don't think so. I'm asking if it's unreasonable to be surprised about it.

You can't deny people the right to post just because the way they express their opinion is not grammatically perfect.

I'm not denying anyone anything. People can post what they like. I'm just surprised how commonplace it's becoming.

Part of the reason non-natives speak/write better is because they are taught the rules from the beginning, people who learn the language from babies learn language rules by assimilation/sound first. The rules come after the fact. You can ask people 'why' a certain sentence is correct and they'll say, "I don't know; it just is...it sounds right."
You must admit 'should've' (as spoken) sounds like 'should of'... sometimes it's hard to break habits.

"Indeed. My wife is Polish and has no trouble with it, either written or spoken"

I thnik this should, more correctly, read

"Indeed. My wife is Polish and has no trouble with it, neither written nor spoken"

You must admit 'should've' (as spoken) sounds like 'should of'

Yes indeed. I can see why it happens, but 30 years ago it wasn't common at all.