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

[MeetMeInMontauk]

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?

I really don't understand why it's so difficult to understand the difference between your/you're, there/their, are/our etc. It's bleeding obvious.

Errors:

Here here!
To reign in..

Love this thread!
I'm in grammar/spelling police heaven!!
You're/your
there/their/they're
pacific/specific (does make me chuckle - may be a regional thing!)
Could of / should of / will of .... just Noooooooo - it's have!!!

Not the “to reign in the 14th century” one!

Pacific instead of specific is very unlikely to be regional, by the way. Stop passing the buck!

Don’t get me started on “I brought a new dress from new look”

I was going to start a similar thread yesterday but couldn’t take the flaming.

In one post yesterday, the OP used of instead of both have and off. How the fudge are they pronouncing have and off that they think both are written as ‘of’?!?!?!

@19lottie82 - I brought a new dress from new look”

Perfectly reasonable, provided you have just arrived somewhere and are discussing the items you brought with you.

Discrete and discreet also seem to be used interchangeably now.

Estate agents seem to be very bad at this type of thing. I have seen 'sort after area' and 'on suite facilities'

Also once read about how someone had met their 'kinder' spirit.

but generally written language should be grammatically correct

You were talking about how it is used on Mumsnet, where people write as if they are having a conversation. You can use formal language here and many do, but it is also perfectly reasonable on a message board to write as if you are speaking in your own dialect, as long as it doesn't impede meaning.

Good communicators are capable of using different levels of formality of language for different situations. If someone using "I was sat" on a message board upsets you so much, you probably need to log off and go and have a lie down.

@MeetMeInMontauk

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

"Yep, it's another sanctimonious grammar-Nazi"

I find the casual use of the word Nazi to be highly offensive, so die away.

YADNBU. Every time I see it on a thread it makes me think that the poster is thick as pigshit and I don't bother reading anything else they have to say.

It’s my most hated grammatical mistake

MsLumley. You need to look up Muphry.

"Could you borrow me a …" ARGHHHHH

Yanbu. 'Could of' 'should of' 'would of' 'I done' 'off of' there's so many.

...there are so many...

@actualpuffins - You can use formal language here and many do, but it is also perfectly reasonable on a message board to write as if you are speaking in your own dialect, as long as it doesn't impede meaning.

The problem is, it often does impede understanding, particularly if communicating with non-native speakers. I have struggled on occasion to understand posts where people write as they speak, despite being Irish and therefore fluent in English.

For example, someone writing brought instead of bought or borrow instead of loan can completely change the meaning of the sentence. In most cases I can work it out but occasionally it can result in me misunderstanding, as until I started reading threads like this as I never previously encountered this.

If someone using "I was sat" on a message board upsets you so much, you probably need to log off and go and have a lie down.

I never said it upsets me. I simply said I believe written communication, whether formal or informal, should be grammatically correct. There is a difference between informal and incorrect.

I generally presume that someone who writes in a grammatically incorrect way (e.g. could of, I was sat etc) doesn't know that what they are writing is incorrect.

Yes, discreet and discrete. People who should know the difference mix them up.

“I was sat...” is regional whereas “I should of...” makes no sense at all.

"I seen" and "I done" are also regional. Doesn't make them right.

"I was sat" is a non standard verb form, perfectly acceptable in spoken English. I think we communicate in informal but written forms much more frequently than we used to so you will see more non standard grammar written down. It'd actually be a bit weird and pompous to use totally formal grammar on mumsnet.

@longestlurkerever - "I was sat" is a non standard verb form, perfectly acceptable in spoken English.

Only acceptable in certain regions. It would be considered odd where I live whereas "I done", also a non standard verb form, is quite common where I live.

I use "ye" as the plural of you. Someone from Dublin is likely to use "youse" as the plural of you. Both are non standard but I would expect either would sound odd to someone not used to them. If you know you are using a non standard format, then you should know what the correct format is.

If you are communicating with people you know, who also use the same dialect/regionalisms, then yeah, write as you speak. If you're not, then use the correct format to ensure maximum communication.

It'd actually be a bit weird and pompous to use totally formal grammar on mumsnet.

Correct grammar doesn't have to be pompous. It's perfectly possible to write informally and correctly.

For some reason I see a ridiculous amounts of dose! Which would be fine if they were talking about medicine but it’s “Dose anyone know.....?” Drives me potty. ITS DOES! (Breathing in to a paper bag)

Let me throw this in your cage ..... How's you ..... How's you wtf what the actual fucking fuck how is you ....