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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

'Would of' is a phrase with no meaning whatsoever

125 replies

antlerqueen · 16/08/2011 11:17

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

OP posts:
VictorianIce · 16/08/2011 13:58

I don't understand those - they're not common words, but you'd check, surely?

I keep noticing 'been' instead of 'being'. I suppose it's down to pronunciation, but it doesn't even make sense!

SpamMarie · 16/08/2011 14:01

There, their, they're. I know how to use them, but then again I have a degree in foreign languages, so I am a little pendantic about these things. As for semantics - well words can and do change meaning over time, so I try to be a little less up my own arse with that. But grammar is pretty slow-moving when it comes to the evolution of language. Their you have it. Grin

Has anyone noticed that some folks do not understand the difference between being and been. As in, 'You are been spoken to.' Hmm

EuphemiaMcGonagall · 16/08/2011 14:01

A lot of Scottish people put an erroneous "r" in the word idea in the plural i.e. idears. Angry

I think it's an over-compensation for our rhotic accent, that is we pronounce /r/ wherever it occurs, whereas most English accents are non-rhotic, meaning speakers do not pronounce /r/ after a vowel, e.g., in fear, bear, etc. So Scottish speakers start sticking /r/ in where it doesn't belong!

Gets right on my wick.

SpamMarie · 16/08/2011 14:02

VictorianIce we must have shared a brain connection there!

Andrewofgg · 16/08/2011 14:26

Then there's Laura Norder.

Why do I get myself started . . .

chill1243 · 16/08/2011 14:27

suppose the mean would have

turdinator · 16/08/2011 14:29

Please don't get me started on.... there, their and they're!

Mandy2003 · 16/08/2011 16:00

And don't get me started on capitalisation.

It makes the difference between "I'd better help my Uncle Jack off that horse!" and "I'd better help my uncle jack off that horse!"

FantasticVoyage · 16/08/2011 16:15

I can just about understand people getting to, two and too mixed up (what with them being joining word-type-things), but 'lose' and 'loose'? FFS! What kind of moron do you have to be to get those wrong? Grrr.

chill1243 · 16/08/2011 16:42

yes, there and their is easy to get wrong. And there are 3 ways of spelling councillor. I never worry about theoretical English. If it reads ok, its ok.

A lot of famous writers have a go at other writers style and even puncuation

For example critics have said JK Rowling is a lousy writer. Ohyes they have

LaitAuChocolat · 16/08/2011 21:04

One of my colleagues sent a letter to a tenant asking them to provide a 'deep pole' in order for us to change their name on our system.....

squeakytoy · 16/08/2011 21:09

My fingers always itch to correct people who post "draw" instead of "drawer" when talking about a part of furniture.

jeee · 16/08/2011 21:11

Very unique.... something is either unique, or not.

timidviper · 16/08/2011 21:17

What about nucular instead of nuclear? That drives me mad and so many people say it!

EcoLady · 16/08/2011 21:23

Best apostrophe misuse that I have spotted was a sign at the Services on the M20, saying the shopping area open's at xx time and close's at xx.

stabiliser15 · 16/08/2011 21:24

Oh - and Supernanny saying "asseptible" instead of acceptable. I think she is great in many ways, but that makes my teeth itch!

IggyPup · 16/08/2011 21:27

I confess to having a problem with using the words "bring" and "take". It has been explained to me lots of times but it hasn't sunk in. If I know I am going to have to use the word I either say "bring/take" and let the listener decide on the appropriate form or I say the opposite of what feels right.

(I blame it on my mother. She taught me everything I know and Dad just agreed with her.)

BagofHolly · 16/08/2011 21:30

I wish I hadn't read this thread. I'm coming out in hives. My personal wrath is saved for those who coin words. A stupid idle lazy cow I used to work with, regularly said she was "horrended" when I think she meant horrified. So as well as being so bloody workshy she would scratch fire off her own arse, her language also made me want to punch her to the ground. Ugh.

ShellyBoobs · 16/08/2011 21:40

Drawing.

It's pronounced 'draw-ing' NOT 'draw-ring', for god's sake.

Mitmoo · 16/08/2011 21:42

Sorry if it has been said but you are not a grammar Nazi or you would be in control of your capital letters and you're not.

Mitmoo · 16/08/2011 21:45

That was to the OP

Mitmoo · 16/08/2011 21:47

Best misuse of a comma that was shown to me on a training course was:

Not getting any better, come home!

Not getting any, better come home!

Grin
skinnymuffin · 16/08/2011 21:47

The following:

'Ooh, I have a terrible scratch, I must itch it! Will you itch my scratch for me? I can't reach it...' etc

Makes me want to itch their eyes out...

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 16/08/2011 21:50

I once worked with someone who used pacific for specific. This is the conversation I really wanted to have with him but didn't because he was nice bloke and I didn't want to upset him.

Him - "Can we be more pacific about this?"
Me - " Yeah, chill man!"

Molybdenum · 16/08/2011 22:00

My current pet hate is the incorrect use of regularly. Many people seem to believe it to be interchangeable with frequently.

Also, someone above used the word folks. Folk is a plural; it does not require an s.