Being irritated at "would of, could of....."

[DuchessOfDisaster]

I cringe when I see this written down. Along with "defiantly" for definitely and other examples. I don't see there is ever any excuse. And the excuse that "language evolves" doesn't wash, because "to of" is not a verb and never will be no matter how language evolves. It's not the same as adopting words from other cultures, new words like selfies, or a different meaning for "sick", for example.

OK, when we say "would've", "could've" etc, it may SOUND similar, but that's no excuse either. It implies the writer has never seen "would have" etc written down, therefore doesn't read much. What did they do at school? Was this style of writing used then and never corrected?

Another cringeworthy example is the inability to differentiate between there/they're/their and your/you're.

Just why do people do it and worse, why is it excused?

[quote Pumperthepumper]@luciasanta

English as a second language
Dyslexia
Poor childhood
Exhaustion
Mental health difficulties
Disorganised education
Bullying, leading to missed education
Lack of confidence
English as a third language
Hearing difficulties in early childhood
Poor short term memory
Difficulties typing
Dyspraxia
ADHD
English as a fourth language[/quote]
Absolutely this ^^

This is what makes me laugh when those who think they're superior due to their SPAG skills, can't rub 2 brain cells together and come up with a few reasons why people might not be the same as them.

They really need to get out more and try to broaden their minds.

Those errors make it difficult to read if English isn't your first language, because they change the meaning.

@SaharaFlower

Those errors make it difficult to read if English isn't your first language, because they change the meaning.

They really don’t if you’ve learned your second language as a spoken one rather than a written one.

The best bit about these threads is spotting all the mistakes that the smug complainers make in their own posts.

@MadeOfStarStuff

YANBU it’s irritating enough in spoken English but it’s even worse in written English

Accents and dialects of spoken English are fine but written English should be standard regardless of how you speak. People do notice and judge bad grammar. Especially if it’s in communications to people who don’t know you it makes a really bad impression.

Especially if it’s in communications to people who don’t know you it makes a really bad impression

I can’t figure out the meaning of this AT ALL, do you need help with punctuation?

OK, when we say "would've", "could've" etc, it may SOUND similar, but that's no excuse either. It implies the writer has never seen "would have" etc written down, therefore doesn't read much. What did they do at school? Was this style of writing used then and never corrected?

You're right, they don't read. I've met people who've never read a book once they left school.

I'm seeing more "of" and "off" being mixer up and used incorrectly too.

Brought and bought will always annoy me. It's not even that difficult to work out which is which. Brought from "to bring". Bought from "to buy". I swear half the population doesn't realise they're two different words with two different meanings, not one word with two spellings.

*mixed

Just because English isn't a first language, that doesn't make it a second. But how you've learned isn't relevant when it is really written language that you're reading.

I have a super clever friend who did this - until I pointed it out. She just went to a really crap school and was never taught.

So I pressed YANBU as I hate it too, but I have learnt not to judge everyone who does it as this friend of mine would have got a first from Oxford had she had the chances I had.

I would have thought if she’s that brainy she could have worked it out for herself. Or maybe she’s never heard Elvis Presley’s‘You are always on my mind’.

@AmberIsACertainty

OK, when we say "would've", "could've" etc, it may SOUND similar, but that's no excuse either. It implies the writer has never seen "would have" etc written down, therefore doesn't read much. What did they do at school? Was this style of writing used then and never corrected?

You're right, they don't read. I've met people who've never read a book once they left school.

I'm seeing more "of" and "off" being mixer up and used incorrectly too.

Brought and bought will always annoy me. It's not even that difficult to work out which is which. Brought from "to bring". Bought from "to buy". I swear half the population doesn't realise they're two different words with two different meanings, not one word with two spellings.

Mixer?

I think you mean ‘mixed’, although ‘confused’ would be better. Maybe you should read more.

@SaharaFlower

Just because English isn't a first language, that doesn't make it a second. But how you've learned isn't relevant when it is really written language that you're reading.

I know, I said that upthread. But if you know spoken English over written English, and are attempting to learn written English, it’s just as easy to learn ‘could’ve’ as ‘could of’.

I've gone feral and write woulda, coulda, shoulda, and gonna (going to) in informal writing.

My supervisor would send out notes using "recieve" and other blatantly wrongly spelled words and I thought less of her.

@SoupDragon

The best bit about these threads is spotting all the mistakes that the smug complainers make in their own posts.

@SoupDragon

The best bit about these threads is spotting all the mistakes that the smug complainers make in their own posts.

What makes you assume people are smug? I'm not smug. I'm sometimes annoyed and frustrated at reading drivel, but that's it.

'Mixer? I think you mean ‘mixed’, although ‘confused’ would be better. Maybe you should read more'

😂

Its a thread that just keep on giving.

@SoupDragon

The best bit about these threads is spotting all the mistakes that the smug complainers make in their own posts.

It gives me such joy.

@AmberIsACertainty you could stop contributing to the drivel by being too lazy/stupid to consider your autocorrect before you hit post. Or just learn to proof read, you like reading.

I understand your justification, but it doesn't make sense. There would need to be some command of written before the spoken, they do come together. It also doesn't make sense spoken.

^Who is going to correct adults?Siblings maybe, colleagues? Only if they know better, have good relationship, see them writing and think it significant enough to mention ie probably no-one.

Well quite! Someone in quite a senior position in one of our partnerships organisations did this (her written English was otherwise fine). I just didn’t feel it was my place to say, ‘by the way, it’s would have not would of.’

@SoupDragon

The best bit about these threads is spotting all the mistakes that the smug complainers make in their own posts.

Quite! I really hate ‘would/could/should of’ but I’m also twitching at Being irritated at

@SaharaFlower

I understand your justification, but it doesn't make sense. There would need to be some command of written before the spoken, they do come together. It also doesn't make sense spoken.

That’s not true. Children often learn their second language as a spoken language by one of their parents. There’s absolutely nothing, from a non-English writer’s point of view, to say we don’t shorten ‘could have’ to ‘could of’ because that’s how it’s been spoken to them.