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 used to work with someone who used the word "irregardless" quite frequently

Well yes, it does rather beg the question of whether grammar rules are objectively important. Much of the reasoning that they are is down to the fact you will be judged badly for doing it wrong rather than really aiding clarity. So maybe 80s teachers were right that there's more important stuff to learn in the scheme of things.

No they were not right. Correctly spoken and written English is at the heart of all subjects.

"He was sat" instead of "he was seated" or "he was sitting".

I agree OP...could of, should of, would of makes me cringe.

I also keep hearing the word 'tret' instead of treat/treated .

'Chester draws' seems to be very common now.

Effect is a verb, as well as a noun but its use as a noun is probably more widely used. For the purposes of a handy guide, knowing affect is a verb and effect is a noun helps a lor.

lot

YANBU
For me it is up there with "I could care less". Um, I think you mean "I COULDN'T care less"

YANBU - I don't know what is worse, seeing it written as 'of' or spoken as 'of'.

I hate scrolling through Facebook posts, as my head keeps screaming 'It's HAVE, could HAVE, would HAVE, should HAVE!'

'The smorning' & 'The safternoon'

Try correcting these ones. Saying that, we're just south of Newcastle and slightly north of Sunderland, so the local accent is neither geordie or mackem........ 'What are you doing the safternoon?'........... SMH!

You are definitely not being unreasonable. I can't bear to see could of, would of or should of.

Also on my list of pet grammatical hates:

Loose instead of lose
Less instead of fewer
Irregardless - this isn't even a word
Barbeque - it's barbecue
There's instead of there are - this has now becomes completely commonplace even by the BBC so I'm fighting a losing (or is it loosing? ) battle on this one
In Australia - versus having become a verb i.e. "who are we versing?" instead of "who are we playing?"
The lack of and the misuse of apostrophes i.e. "Copies of Marias book's will be available on Saturday's" should be "Copies of Maria's books will be available on Saturdays"
Not understanding the difference between every day and everyday i.e. everyday is an adjective that means commonplace or normal. Every day is simply a phrase which means each day.
Alot - it's "a lot"
It's sneaked not snuck
Recurring not reoccuring
Correct pronunciation of preferable and comparable
In fact, pronunciation and not pronounciation
Collective nouns being attributed as plural e.g. "the company is organising" is correct, not "the company are organising"
The incorrect and over-use use of literally. It's now become a way to emphasise a point which misses the point of what it actually means
I was like, she was like - you weren't like anything
Any form of American spelling and grammar drives me nuts
I think that's it. Well for now...

Stationary when people mean stationery.
Tip: just remember "e" for envelope and you can't forget the correct spelling for office supplies - stationery.

Any form of American spelling and grammar drives me nuts

Well, I do apologize. It's difficult for me to switch, having been American all these years. 🇺🇸

People ending a sentence with the word "also". Grrrr

SenecaFalls, when in Rome...

I have an American friend who moved to Australia over 20 years ago who refuses to use anything other than American spelling and grammar in all forms of communication. My friends who've moved state-side are expected to use American spelling, which is what I would expect. I think it's only right to use the spelling of the country you are living in whenever possible.

I once wrote could of the whole way through a mock exam. Very embarrassing. I also hate get off of. You don't need the of...

Keep off mumsnet. You could be dead by the end of the week if you die inside alittle each time.

Pacific instead of specific.
Would of.
Generally all double negatives including 'don't want none' and the like.
Why? Why? Why?

SenecaFalls, when in Rome...

I think it's only right to use the spelling of the country you are living in whenever possible.

I live in the US.

Then great SenecaFalls keep using American spelling. I still can't abide seeing it in British (and Australian) situations like newspapers, marketing emails, etc. We have a great language already we don't need to introduce new spelling like color, center, favorite and neighbor. These are all incorrect.

I agree with "I was sat" and "I was stood". They have a completely different meaning to what's intended by the speaker.

I too dislike "off of". Off more than covers it.

Gotten is not a word. Please stop using it.

Another one that sets my teeth on edge... "to not". The correct format is always "not to". To not do something is wrong, wrong, wrong. But even BBC journalists use it so again, fighting a losing battle.

Also wrong:

Aks instead of ask
His instead of he's

Another one that sets my teeth on edge... "to not". The correct format is always "not to". To not do something is wrong, wrong, wrong. But even BBC journalists use it so again, fighting a losing battle.

BBC journalists are no longer something to set store by, they're obviously on a course to dismantle the Queen's English these days.

You're wrong to criticise an American for her temerity to write in her native dialect, incidentally.

Gotten is not a word. Please stop using it.

You are wrong.

That's you told Seneca.

Too funny.

Sydney- as American English is "wrong" in your book, how do you feel about Australian English?

BOOK ME

"Glass houses and Muphry strike again." ????? Goodness me. Glass houses, pots and kettles indeed Mrs. superiority!!!