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?

'How can you ‘see’ someone ‘say’ anything? Speech bubbles above their head? Communication is important. I now think badly of you as a writer.'

Communication is important, fussy spag pedantry less so @Monday26July

@Monday26July

I think badly of you as a human being based on your behaviour on this thread, so your opinion isn’t really relevant to me. Thanks for sharing it anyway, though!

You have used ‘though’ unnecessarily, as you have already written ‘anyway’. I now think badly of you as a writer and as a communicator. Perhaps you should ask your friends who speak English as a second language for tips.

Oh I know, I’m finished with engaging with them. It’s like any attention seeking behaviour, it withers without attention. Must be a slow Sunday for them, bless.

@Monday26July

Oh I know, I’m finished with engaging with them. It’s like any attention seeking behaviour, it withers without attention. Must be a slow Sunday for them, bless.

It’s just so strange to me that you take issue with poor grammar but you’re not so delighted to have your own mistakes pointed out to you. I thought you’d be pleased at the learning opportunity given to you.

It's not easy to take on a way of speaking that wasn't used around you growing up

That's why it's so important for parents in particular to make the effort to get things right, to make it easier for our children. They are being educated in an age when they will be penalised for bad grammar, so we as parents really need to make the effort to demonstrate correct grammar.

@Terhou

It's not easy to take on a way of speaking that wasn't used around you growing up

That's why it's so important for parents in particular to make the effort to get things right, to make it easier for our children. They are being educated in an age when they will be penalised for bad grammar, so we as parents really need to make the effort to demonstrate correct grammar.

What happens if you, as a parent, are the result of a neglected childhood which meant the intricacies of the English language were never a priority over say, where your next meal was coming from?

Would coming on a forum asking for advice about your child’s sleeping habits, using the wrong grammar and being told you were lazy/stupid/‘thought badly of’ help, do you think?

'You have used ‘though’ unnecessarily, as you have already written ‘anyway’. I now think badly of you as a writer and as a communicator'

Pumper you have absolutely shown the mithery pedants up 👏😂. They just can't take the helpful pointers can they. If only they'd paid attention at school! they wouldn't be showing themselves up.

Agree it is annoying and given the amount of time people spend online these days, even you are not a reader of books, you are exposed to enough written content to get something as simple as this, right.

@sst1234

Agree it is annoying and given the amount of time people spend online these days, even you are not a reader of books, you are exposed to enough written content to get something as simple as this, right.

Incorrect use of comma. Poor use of parenthesis.

@JaniieJones

'You have used ‘though’ unnecessarily, as you have already written ‘anyway’. I now think badly of you as a writer and as a communicator'

Pumper you have absolutely shown the mithery pedants up 👏😂. They just can't take the helpful pointers can they. If only they'd paid attention at school! they wouldn't be showing themselves up.

I haven’t been thanked once, you know. Not one person has expressed their gratitude for this education they claim is so important.

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

She’s wrong. If you learned it and understood it, you will not forget, regardless of never reading another book.

To me its an accent thing. It usually tells me the poster is English. I cant imagine a Scottish person would write 'could of'. We'd naturally say 'could huv'.

I’m in Scotland and can confirm that they most definitely do! No imagination required!

There’s a reason most of the posts are being deleted.

I think you mean "a few" or "some" rather than "most". 4 posts have been deleted out of 162 (as at the time of typing this).

@SoupDragon

There’s a reason most of the posts are being deleted.

I think you mean "a few" or "some" rather than "most". 4 posts have been deleted out of 162 (as at the time of typing this).

I don’t mean most of all of the posts. I mean most of a certain poster’s recent posts.

You’re right though, @SoupDragon. I’ll stop exaggerating. 🙄

My line manager at work used to do it and it annoyed the hell out of me.

The reason behind correctly a person's spelling or grammar is often nasty.

It isn't about helping them or even about being annoyed. It is simply way for the one person to feel superior to another person. As such, the desire to correct other people is an unpleasant character trait.

I judge those who do it more harshly than they judge other people for their grammar mistakes.

'Agree it is annoying and given the amount of time people spend online these days, even you are not a reader of books, you are exposed to enough written content to get something as simple as this, right.'

'Incorrect use of comma. Poor use of parenthesis.'

Yes and isn't it 'even if you are not a reader of books'? Tut tut.

@BeingATwatItsABingThing mine were deleted for quoting a deleted post. Do you want to talk about it?

YANBU it’s one of my pet peeves and I can’t help but roll my eyes. I just cannot believe how prevalent it’s become.

Maybe a year ago, I would have voted YANBU. In fact, when this thread was posted a year ago, I think I did vote YANBU. This time… YABU.

Yes, I’ll be annoyed if they’re writing it in work that I have to correct before it can be given to a client or published. But otherwise… I’m sick now. Really sick. It’s shite. But it’s made me realize these people aren’t specifically targeting me and doing these things to give me an eye twitch, so why focus on it? luciasanta has a good list of why it happens. People are trying to communicate; let them. Now, the one thing I do wonder about: when people misspell defiantly/definitely, simply because they’re two separate words. And better to let them know privately, so there’s no confusion or embarrassment in their future.

Pumperthepumper

Monday26July
I think badly of you as a human being based on your behaviour on this thread, so your opinion isn’t really relevant to me. Thanks for sharing it anyway, though!

You have used ‘though’ unnecessarily, as you have already written ‘anyway’. I now think badly of you as a writer and as a communicator.

I disagree. I think that the ‘though’ provides extras emphasis and conveys Monday’s feelings far more accurately than if she had just left it at ‘anyway’.

I mean most of a certain poster’s recent posts.

Still nowhere near "most".

@HarryHedgehog

YANBU it’s one of my pet peeves and I can’t help but roll my eyes. I just cannot believe how prevalent it’s become.

Food poverty has also become more prevalent. Do you think the two might be linked?

@CecilyP

Pumperthepumper

Monday26July
I think badly of you as a human being based on your behaviour on this thread, so your opinion isn’t really relevant to me. Thanks for sharing it anyway, though!

You have used ‘though’ unnecessarily, as you have already written ‘anyway’. I now think badly of you as a writer and as a communicator.

I disagree. I think that the ‘though’ provides extras emphasis and conveys Monday’s feelings far more accurately than if she had just left it at ‘anyway’.

You think ‘though’ emphasises ‘anyway’ rather than repeats it?