to get annoyed at people who use *of* instead of *have*...

[Saddlesore]

... as in "I would of bought you a present if I knew it was your birthday".

Grrr!

Indeed Slammerkins. Eloquently put!

Correcting someone's grammar is akin to telling a stranger who just walked out of the toilets that her dress is tucked down her knickers at the back. It's an act of kindness, otherwise they're just going to go about looking stupid.

Only to sneery people who lack the wit or intelligence to read words and correct as they go, Swallowing. And who gives a chuff about the opinions of that sort.

I don't correct people's mistakes. That doesn't mean why I hear, or read, howlers, it doesn't make me wince. One of my closest friends always "Dave and me went for dinner last night." Although it drives me crazy, I never say anything. I make no apologies for noticing it.

why you hear?

< winceyette>

Whatever gets you through the night for some people I guess. Still stuck on Top Table for SPAG, forever and ever and ever

Doesn't it make life a bit shit, all that wincing/twitching/eye rolling/teeth itching etc. Yes, it does. I wish people would stop making mistakes

I only care about things that matter - like people saying text instead of texted.

Have course YNBU

I'd rather enjoy being with my friends and not give a fuck that they ain't as clever as what I think I am

I enjoy my friend's company. She is quite intelligent and reads a lot. I am mystified as to why she does this.

It seems like there are two types of people on this thread. Those who would take it well if they were corrected, and use it to their advantage in future, and those who would get huffy about it or would rather carry on being wrong.

I think you have over-simplified the discussion annoyed. It's not just about what people would want others to do in relation to their own errors, but more about what people think is polite and respectful as a general rule.

I have to say I have only see this spelling mistake on Mumsnet. I just assumed it was the result of poor education. I still do. Does not make poorly educated people any lesser than those who may have been better educated.

They are just less educated.

Like some people leave school with GCSEs. Some leave school with poor grammar. Some people go on to university etc. Just different levels of education resulting in different language skills.

And some people just don't care. And don't want to learn.

But others do. Takes all sorts and all that. Different values.

Naicehamshop - everyone is taught when to use "of" and "have". Whether they choose to listen or not is another matter....

They really aren't. I wasn't and my school wasn't that bad, I was in the top class for English Literature and Language throughout. I wasn't taught the basics of grammar, even in the foreign languages I learnt. I got A and B grades for all these subjects!?!

They really aren't. I wasn't and my school wasn't that bad

But didn't you learn from reading books? No one says could of would of in any book that has ever been published anywhere in the world!!!! Because it is wrong :)

It just goes to show spoken language has an input aS Well as written. I read a lot as a child but still m anaged in primary to write "would of" - my mum corrected me after one parents' evening. I couldn't forget it after that!

I never recall it being taught in school - this was the era of free expression and no direct grammar teaching. The poor MF languages teachers despaired of it.

Was that the 80's era, free expression? Because that's when I was at school and they didn't seem to bother with grammar.

Late 70s early 80s in English State school. Scottish friends educated in that era have more of a clue!

Wonder who came up with that bright idea!

Same here. My O'level is English Language and Literature. 1982. Absolutely no grammar ever. The language element was story writing.

But if you were reading English literature, you must have come across "would have" and "would've" but never "would of".