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Original poster

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

122 replies

Mymblesson · 21/02/2011 12:03

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.

OP posts:
Longtalljosie · 21/02/2011 16:28

"And I actually saw "who're" in the Mirror yesterday"

Ah - that will have been a sub-editor who needs to lose a line in order to make the story fit. S/he'll have removed every word s/he can, have shortened everything possible, and then in despair have turned "who are" into "who're" to lose that vital one character and the orphan word which has been throwing the whole story out will spring back onto the line above...

QuickLookBusy · 21/02/2011 16:48

Trillian If you feel the need to tell someone, then do so. I personally don't think it is appropriate to do so on an internet forum.

TrillianAstra · 21/02/2011 16:51

It's not about me needing to tell someone, it's about me not understanding why you wouldn't want to know that you were wrong.

LaWeasel · 21/02/2011 16:58

I'll be honest.

I don't give if a stuff if my word usage is wrong. Anyone can correct me all they like and I shall happily ignore.

If I skip out words (my major dyslexic trait) and I spot it or someone queries I will repost or it can be hard to know what I meant to say.

But should, would. Meh. Small potatoes.

QuickLookBusy · 21/02/2011 17:02

Well I wouldn't want someone to correct me everytime I post something on MN.

usualsuspect · 21/02/2011 17:09

Can you imagine all the pedants marking our mistakes with red pen Grin

MarianneM · 21/02/2011 17:15

Why does anyone care? Because it is SHOCKING that people cannot speak their own language, that's why! And that they don't even care! As I said before in a similar thread, a lot of people seem actually proud to be stupid.

LaWeasel · 21/02/2011 17:27

It is shockingly rude to correct somebody else in an informal setting - of which an internet forum is surely the epitome. Particularly as autocorrect, distraction and threads too fast to double check mean we all make mistakes some of the time and it doesn't mean we don't know what the rule is.

It also makes the 'corrector' appear to have such low self-esteem that the only way they can be happy is to Lord over how much more they know than their lowly accomplaces.

I have had 20yrs of my friend correcting my 'americanisms' (they are not, but I'm not british and any non-rp gets moaned at) and I am getting so fed up I don't talk to her anymore.

TheMonster · 21/02/2011 17:30

OP, I feel your pain. I am a pedant and it really bugs me that some people can't even be bothered to use the correct words. 'Would of' makes no sense.
It's the same kind of people that think 'meh' is a word Wink

LaWeasel · 21/02/2011 17:35

Again with the not caring. Although for future reference new words are - shockingly - invented all the time! It doesn't make them not words. Old words also go out of circulation. We have an extremely ingenious and maleable language and it irritates me intensely when anyone thinks that 'their' way of speaking is the only correct way, or that it will be the correct way forever.

It is also really almost impressively pompous to behave like this, particularly the way it makes all pedant's look like they have the social skills of a gnat.

LaWeasel · 21/02/2011 17:35

[waits to be corrected for skipped words and typos]

QuickLookBusy · 21/02/2011 17:45

Marinne I think that is a gross exaggeration. If someone is a bad speller, or has bad grammar that does not mean they cannot speak their own language. It also does not mean they are stupid.

Maybe you should all ask MNHQ for a facility to correct posters grammar and spelling mistakes as Usual suggested.

A little bit of history for you-Since the 70's many schools have been run by people who were a bit left wing. They thought learning by rote was unnecessary, as was leanring spelling, grammar and phonics. It was only during the early 90s that the national curriculum came in and schools had to teach these things. It is shocking yes but those are the facts.
As I said in an earlier post, if you went to a school, which taught these basics-well done you are lucky. I went to 4 different primary schools where I learnt very little. if I do make mistakes it is not deliberate.

As an aside, no one make fun of people who aren't completly numerate. I aways try to help anyone who has problems with budgets etc. I don't mock anyone who can't make or understand something imo which is so basic.

Bucharest · 21/02/2011 17:48

But where, where, where are all these people running around correcting others?

I'll admit to wanting to, but I've never done it (apart from on the aforementioned teacher's report forms, but that was a case of having to, or the school would have looked as if it were employing...well, you know...) and nor would I.

Actually, I'd like people to correct me if I ever made a mistake though. But that'd be because I like to learn stuff.

QuickLookBusy · 21/02/2011 17:52

Agree with the "new" words LaWeasel As I posted earlier we would still all be speaking as if in a Shakespearian play, if language hadn't changed.

Language will change whether you all like it or not.

And I usually apologise for spelling mistakes which I notice after posting, but I'm not going to on this threadWink

Bucharest · 21/02/2011 17:55

Neologisms yes.

Mistakes, nope.

Huge difference.

Shakespeare was grammatically correct.

LaWeasel · 21/02/2011 17:55

It is not usually very bad on MN (in fact I think it has got less bad, possibly after pedant's corner was added?) but seeing all those posts saying people should want to be corrected in such an arrogant manner really pushes my you are behaving like pompous twats button.

So apologies if I have been a little harsh, just felt the need to emphasise how incredibly rude it is to correct people in an unsolicited manner.

Bucharest · 21/02/2011 17:56

Please, show me where it's happening and I'll agree with you, honest!

LaWeasel · 21/02/2011 17:59

no, no it's fine to witchy hunt. It doesn't happen very often, but sometimes after a grammar type thread you get a rash of it.

Also, possibly, in RL. With my friend. Hmm Who annoys me so much my rage has spilled online. Blush

LaWeasel · 21/02/2011 17:59

it's fine - no witchy hunt.

(correction worth making!)

DuelingFanjo · 21/02/2011 18:00

YANBU. it's awful and I do judge.

TrillianAstra · 21/02/2011 18:06

I think a casual setting like MN should be a good opportunity to say Hey, it doesn't matter too much here but you should know that it is written "should have" not "should of", just in case you want to use the phrase in a more formal environment where getting it wrong would be a problem

LaWeasel · 21/02/2011 18:18

If you wouldn't do it in a casual chat with an acquaintance (which - well of course you're not so rude as to do that, are you?) you shouldn't do it on a forum which is of equivalent standing.

Unless they have asked your advice and it's relevant to the thread. eg, tips for writing a good CV with mistakes in OP, perfectly sensible to politely point out the mistakes. I can't really think of many other appropriate examples.

bettybosseye · 21/02/2011 18:30

It must be nice to have so little to worry about in life that there's time to make pompous judgements about people.
Get a life OP, what a dull world it would be if we were all perfect like you.

FabbyChic · 21/02/2011 18:34

Who gives a fuck. Shoulda woulda who cares.

Stop being so pedantic and get a life.

scottishmummy · 21/02/2011 18:37

its online blah blah with strangers.doesnt require exacting standards and good syntax

you see it doesnt matter its only birds blethering

isnt work
isnt assessable
it doesnt actually matter

i like the spontaneity of rattle tattle oot a post without fannying around spell checking etc

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