… to get annoyed at the misuse of English words?

[SnowBells]

For example, why oh why do people use "of" instead of "have"?

It's NEVER "I should of…" or "would of". It's "I should HAVE" or "would HAVE".

I say that as someone who speaks several languages - and English is actually my second language. I don't think that people in Britain get taught English in school properly anymore.

Does no one care anymore? I don't think anyone would get a job at my company making those mistakes, although I admit that writing is a big part of my job, so it really matters.

AIBU or do others get annoyed about this, too?

Nig I was brought up in an English speaking different country too, I went to a great school and loved literature.. but that's neither here nor there, the fact is, this government does not even know how to educate our young ones, its all about money, sadly. Teachers are working their whatevers off but there's so much paperwork etc etc there's no time to get down to the beautiful way I was taught. (I'm oldish).

My dc's are well educated, but omg do I correct them. They're 18 and 20.

So, in a way I agree, but you can't slag off people who don't speak or write to your expectations.

It's the Department of Education, have a go at them. Not here.

you may have a point monty - but why are you addressing me!!? wasn't it snowbells who was moaning about our declining standards?

Oh sorry Nig, I got confused, tis rather late. I was agreeing with you in your earlier posts

OK, that'll be a night night then. :)

By the way, in case anyone thinks I'm a teacher and hence my opinion, no I'm not.

Nite all :)

nite montee

OP try being an English teacher and getting kids to learn this! It's bloody almost impossible for some and trust me when I say these are pupils who come from educated, middle class backgrounds at private schools who just refuse to write "have" instead of "of."

The problem is owing to the use of the contractions "would've" and "could've" (have/'ve sounding like of) and this is because of the sloppy way people speak in general.

BTW the one thing I HATE more than any is using the word women instead of woman. AAAGGHHHH!!! One is plural and one isn't. It's not hard!

Lol Nig

1. English is a pretty difficult language to learn, with all its quirks.

2. As a foreign language learner you will have learnt English differently from the way a native speaker learns it, so your idea of 'properly taught English' may be different from that of a native speaker.

3. i do admit tht i absolutley hate reading threds where the first pragraph is 20000 words lnog with out full stops.and evrything is rongly formatted with wierd , punctation and abbrvs like sil mil ds are not propoly in captials. ok ok ok yes i am a twot

4. ...but having said that, one of my very best friends has very severe dyslexia to the point where often every single word in a sentence is incorrect, and she's now a published author. Which means that, really, it's not how you say it but what you have to say that counts.

I don't think that people in Britain get taught English in school properly anymore. shock

Surely they don't get taught, they are taught.

Oh and I agree. YANBU.

Should of etc is a pet hate of mine as well. In fact, I gave my class homework the other night asking them to write sentences using should have etc.

I got "should have went".
Back to square one!

Not enough grammar taught in schools now. And I work in one! Joining you in Pedants' Corner.

I'm sure your English is excellent but I'm not sure it's right to say that people who speak a language formally (because they learned all the rules in a classroom) speak it "better".

My Japanese, for example, is quite correct with all the particles lined up neatly. I would not say it's better than someone speaking natural (and arguably sloppy) Japanese with lots of dropped particles and loan words.