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?

Moon, that's not an Americanism. That's just poor grammar.

It doesn't bother me as it's become so commonplace I don't hear it as wrong.

Draws on the other hand...

I think I understood about 5% of your post. It’s not that I don’t read or didn’t listen in school we just weren’t taught anything other than basic grammar. By the time I was at senior school it was assumed that we understood. How I passed my English GCSEs I’ll never know (fairly sure it was due to being able to submit 100% course work). I understand your point of view but don’t be so judgemental you don’t know a persons background so best not to comment.
However I will say that the way people use the term off of really irritates me. For example Emma Willis off of the voice 🙄

Haven't finished reading the thread but I've remembered one that I have noticed more and more over the years; writ! "I writ it down," or "I told him to writ it down" (last example was very recently from someone who works in a school.

It is write or written!

Granny Haydock ....
"Gosh! Dare I mention that "arguing" does not include the letter "e" ?"

YES of course you may! as the vast majority of posters on here have joined together to jovially share what irritates them, and it has been extremely amusing for most of us, most of the time. I do not protest to be "perfect" nor ever will, and I do enjoy a banter with fellow posters about things that make us either irritated, or laugh. We have mostly all posted about a "general" thing which irritates us. However, "Book me" has quite coldly singled out individuals on this post, to try to belittle and make a fool of. (I am one of them). This is actually quite nasty. There is a very great difference between sharing a general irritation of a very common mistake which we all see often enough, and having a cheerful banter about others irritations, to being singled out berated, and insulted by someone who professes (spelling probably wrong!) to be absolutely perfect, but who makes plenty of mistakes themselve, but continues SINGLING out innocent posters on this matter, to try to belittle and insult. Thanks Granny H. - yes, you are quite right, there is no E. but I take that in a jolly and cheerful manner, and accept that I am not perfect. However, I have never claimed to be, nor ever will. Have a lovely afternoon. I do hope that such jolly sharing posts such as this won't be spoiled by all of this. xx

BOOK ME
"And I will continue to "hijack" any thread where I see people being slagged off for something that is not their fault. Especially when they are not here to defend themselves. And even more so when the people doing the slagging off are just as guilty of the crimes they so vehemently despise."

There is your problem Bookme. The posters on here have not "slagged off" any individual whatsoever, but have expressed irritation, or amusement at a "general" matter seen very many times. How can a general observation defend itself?? You, however, have quite cold-bloodedly SINGLED OUT POSTERS ON THIS FORUM and attacked them, insulted them, and tried to belittle them. There is a vast difference and if you cannot recognise this, then it probably explains your posts, your arrogance and your vitriol. How pitiable.

And I repeat: imagine you are one of those posters who do not know, because they have never been taught, that "could of" is wrong. How do you feel, seeing a whole thread saying people that do that are as thick as pigshit (a quote from this thread) a moron, illiterate and any other number of things that have been said.

How do you feel? Is it still lighthearted banter?

I didn't say "individuals" were being slagged off. I said "people" were. Which they are. And that is why, seeing as actual individuals on this thread doing the slagging off are making just as many errors, I point them out. As many of you have said, you'd want to be corrected.

Are you still looking for those grammar and spelling mistakes you say I have made?

I may have a crush on bookme.

We must have a post each week oh-so-wittily criticising people for imperfect spelling and grammar. They are all full of nasty posts belittling others for being less clever or less well educated. It's dispiriting.

I don't have much confidence in my own grammar and syntax, having attended a large failing 80's comp, so I'm not able to critique others. Even when I recognise the language "sounds" off, I often can't identify the reason. It doesn't mean I haven't enjoyed seeing the mean girls getting a taste of their own medicine.

Was going to answer "book me" but she is so boring, and such a hypocrite, aqnd her posts are so repetitive... that I cannot be bothered any more, listening to her diatribe!

Thank you all for the lovely cheery and funny exchanges, which has been fun.

Sadly, one person on this forum finds it more "fun" to single out INDIVIDUAL people, and try to humiliate them personally. Rather sad really.
Night night all, and thanks for the giggles (at no ones' personal expense) .. just a bit sad that "she" was allowed to single out INDIVIDUALS and berate them and insult them and spoil it all.

I actually WAITED for your claim of your employment, and you didn't disappoint - your words..

"I shall tell my school, the university, and my publisher that I am but a phantom presence. Klaxon- some people on MN live in different time zones to the UK, and lecturers have free hours. "

OH, aren't you just SPECIAL.

does'nt change anything. We were all talking collectively, YOU spitefully picked on a few posters, individually to humiliate.

I could not be bothered to read you last few posts, but imagine it was all the same... (garbage!) just repeated over and again... and HOW funny that I quite expected you to come up with some kind of University/teaching career... ... HA HA HA! I was right, didn't take too long, did it!!

Logging off of this (what was, otherwise, a light-hearted post, which you hi-jacked with your SUPREME SUPERIORITY and false garbage claims.

You are actually the nastiest person I have come across on MN since I joined, quite a long while ago. Not sure why you are on here, except to show off your perceived superiority, and to single out innocent members and insult and bvelittle them.

How very, very sad.

Signing out of this post, as you have poisoned it. Thoroughly.

My pet hate AAAARRRRGGGHHHHH...along with pacific.....FIX UP PEOPLE get back to school

I've had to bite me tongue at "trainings"," learnings" and "accommodations" relating to a discussion about residential training course. Fortunately a speaker of English as a second language (Spanish) corrected the other (Swiss German) -phew!