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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to die inside a little bit every time I see 'could of'?

611 replies

MeetMeInMontauk · 15/09/2018 06:56

Yep, it's another sanctimonious grammar-Nazi thread, so I'm going to get in early and tell all the bleeding heart virtue signallers who usually jump on these threads to do one, straight out of the gate. I'm interested in the experiences of others regarding what appears to be some sort of epidemic (at least on Facebook) or a near-ubiquitous grammatical blind spot in modern written English. For context, I live in an upcoming area of the SE but with an inescapably working class heritage and large council estate community, although this trend is by no means limited to the local FB community pages and is something that I see from even university-educated friends. How has 'could of' snuck in almost unremarked? Obviously as a corruption of the enunciation of the contraction 'could've' when spoken, but even then it makes no sense, if given even the slightest thought. Noone is saying, for example, 'Did you of one of my biscuits?', but the application of 'could of' seems almost universal in some circles. I accept that its contextual use means that nearly everyone involved understands the meaning and intent, but it's an inaccuracy that appears to be gaining continued traction. Does it make anyone else cringe, or do I just need to get back in my cage and chill the fuck out?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
Chrisinthemorning · 15/09/2018 06:59

YANBU

Waitingonasmiley42 · 15/09/2018 06:59

I also hate it. It’s up there with a chest of “draws” for me.

Silvercatowner · 15/09/2018 07:02

Yes, I hate it. For me, it's up there with 'do one'. Wtf does that even mean? Do one what?

Strawberrymelon · 15/09/2018 07:03

I haven't noticed people saying it

Teachtolive · 15/09/2018 07:03

What kills me is the butchering of cue, as in "cue laughter from the back room." Its not queue, or que, it's cue, like pool cue!

sulflower · 15/09/2018 07:04

I'll join you in the cage, it literally sets my teeth on edge every time I see it so YADNBU

Merename · 15/09/2018 07:06

Haha when I saw the title I immediately thought of ‘draws’ - I think that’s worse as many people seem to think that’s the correct term for drawers. Yanbu.

DianaT1969 · 15/09/2018 07:06

Hearing the word 'like' 7 times in one sentence is more painful IMO. Travelling next to under-30s on trains is torture. I can't get my noise-cancelling headphones out fast enough.

WordWeasel · 15/09/2018 07:08

YADNBU.

Urbanbeetler · 15/09/2018 07:08

It will make its way into the dictionary as so many people use it and language changes. People will find it acceptable (or even exceptable) apart from a few of us who will cringe and wring our hands in our nursing homes saying how things aren’t what they should be. The care assistants will ignore us kindly. Everyone will eventually lose (or loose) the memory of ‘could’ve’ and that will be the end of the issue.

ThisIsNotARealAvo · 15/09/2018 07:09

Four in a Bed is full of absolutely terrible spoken English. It's one of the reasons I like watching it sometimes, especially as the speakers take themselves so seriously. Recently I saw inferring instead of implying. Pompous arse of a man repeating "I don't know what you're inferring". One woman said she had had a "po far" with her partner and he had gone. I'm guessing she meant faux pas but even this is wrong and she meant contretemps. Also full of should of, wouldn't of and all said with such a sanctimonious attitude.

ProudThrilledHappy · 15/09/2018 07:10

Right up there with Chester Drawers on the facebook errors. It’s as if people think they were invented by Mr Chester and must hereafter be referred to as his design

Nanasueathome · 15/09/2018 07:11

I also hate it when people type loose instead of lose

newname5 · 15/09/2018 07:12

I really hate it too. I also started a thread about it, but didn’t read the responses after one of the posters had continued goes at me.

ProudThrilledHappy · 15/09/2018 07:13

I’ll also throw in “defiantly” in place of definitely.
You may not think it happens but now I’ve told you, you will see it everywhere Grin

Ffiffime · 15/09/2018 07:13

It absolutely gets on my nerves!
I feel like screaming “it’s fucking HAVE!!!”

As for the previous poster and the draws, on the local selling pages here, we get “Chester drawers” 😂😂

Uncreative · 15/09/2018 07:13

YANBU

It makes me clutch my pearls!

HalfGreekBitch · 15/09/2018 07:13

It’s nasty, just like the pandemic of not using possessive apostrophes which you will see on most cafe and pub A boards asking you to come and sample their culinary delights of the day - “Todays Specials.” Ugh 😑!!

loveka · 15/09/2018 07:15

For me, it is ' can I get?' in restaurants.

Yesterday in a restaurant, table of 10. NO, YOU CAN'T GET IT .THE WAITER WILL GET IT. YOU CAN HAVE IT.

And I agree with you about could of.

Mc180768 · 15/09/2018 07:16

Placemarking.

beepbeeprichie · 15/09/2018 07:16

My own draw related favourite is “the luck of the drawers” which I have seen on here. Ah yes, when you stick your hand in the tall boy and see what you find....

Merename · 15/09/2018 07:21

Shock Chester drawers! And do you I’ve in Chester?!

Merename · 15/09/2018 07:21

Live

BleakBetty · 15/09/2018 07:22

YANBU, it grinds my gears awfully.
I’ve seen ‘Chester draws’ on my local sales page 😂.

speakout · 15/09/2018 07:23

I hate it too.

I