'Would of' is a phrase with no meaning whatsoever

[antlerqueen]

Fully expecting a flaming or being accused of being a grammar nazi (i am a bit), but lately i see that phrase everywhere (a lot of the times on here).

would of - (of what? where? huh?)

It's would have. Just needed to get that off my chest :)

And am not even going to say a thing about 'could care less' or 'alot'... :D

could of

should of

must of

They all get me irritable..

couldn't agree more!

Have have have

I know exactly what you mean. Think I autocorrect in my head or I'd have a meltdown.

Oh sooo agree! Pet hate! Along with loose instead of lose. For some reason that one just grates. It just come form the abbreviation could've which makes it sound more like could of instead of could have and then spread rapidly through the language. It's like text speak.

Me too!

When it's spoken I generously assume people are saying 'would've'. But they are usually not.

I blame my mother for instilling grammar nazi-hood into me!

You're being unreasonable for use of the word 'Nazi', OP. It means something to some of us and I think you're quite pathetic to use it for a grammar 'misdemeanour'.

"10 to the dozen"

DH's family all say that. It means nothing.

The phrase is "19 to the dozen" not 10. That's less than a dozen.

BBC newsreaders referring to the Home (or whatever) 'Seckertree' rather than Secretary.

"For free". No. It's just 'free'.

Drives me up the wall. It's one of my pet hates (along with lots of others )

If people don't start to learn the difference between 'bought' and 'brought' and 'been' and 'being'....I think I may spontaneously combust.

You have been warned

Glad to know i'm not the only one. I'm not even going to say what 'loose' instead of 'lose' makes me think :D

Also, sorry, Lying. It's what i've been called for correcting somebody's awful grammar, not something i would call someone. And i think you are being unreasonable by assuming the word means nothing to me and calling me pathetic for it.

Lol at Seckertee :D

ah,the monthly would of thread

Drives me crazy. Whenever I see it wriitten I have to fight the urge to get a red pen and correct it.

It makes me laugh when people claim to be such grammar experts and then make mistakes in their own posts

And so you are, antlerqueen. The word supposedly means something to you, yet you use it. Different standards, no doubt.

There is a pedantic corner somewhere on this board, apparently, like-minded 'individuals' congregate there to usefully discuss this vexed issue.

Your and you're. Drives me bleeding nuts.

Drives me nuts too Balsam - but it didn't stop me committing that particular grammatical faux pas a couple of days ago

If my husband wants to really wind me up we have a variation of the following conversation:
Me: I should've gone to the library today.
Him: Should have
Me: That's what I said!
Him: No, you said 'should of.'
Me: No I didn't, I said should've - short for should have.
Him: No, it was definitely 'should of.'
Me: (slightly hysterical) I think I know what I said! I would never say 'should of!' It annoys me when people say 'should of!'
Him: Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!

Am currently being an utter cow to my 7 yr old who seems to have picked up the dreaded phrase, he absolutely knows how to write it so I'm not worried about that but even saying it is bad enough. Bread and water time, tis the only way :o

"My friend asked if I could borrow her some money." "I asked if I could lend some money off of a friend." AArrrggghhh! Pedants Corner here I come.

I've actually seen "would of, could of" on tv subtitles! Drives me crackers!

Every time my kids seh summat incorrectly ah mek um spell i' out lowd, n thy carn'

YANBU. It's nonsense.

Tomato's and Brockley anyone!

The adverb "only" should immediately precede that word or phrase that it is intended to modify. "Without" is not a possessive and saying that you 'left the house without your umbrella', for example, is poor English. "Synchronise" is not actually a synonym for combine or coordinate. "Ongoing" has a valid stand-alone meaning without being turned into a tautology through use in phrases like 'ongoing situation'. The past participle of ?wreak? is ?wreaked? and not "wrought". ?Wrought? is an archaic past tense of "work".

But the vast majority of people will understand what you mean regardless of whether you make the above howlers because language is fluid and constantly evolving. Same goes for should of/should have; brought/bought; tomayto/tomahto. Don't be afraid to embrace the new, innit! YABU.

I stop reading a post if someone uses incorrect grammar, spelling or punctuation. I just can't be bothered with them.

Mataland