Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Would of/could of/should of

234 replies

Getamoveon36 · 13/12/2023 12:46

Please make it stop.

AIBU?

OP posts:
Isittimeformynapyet · 14/12/2023 01:17

ColleenDonaghy · 13/12/2023 15:21

The absolute classic example of someone marking themselves as uninformed by criticising something that is correct.

Show quote history

It's aitch in the dictionary though. Surely we can agree on that.

Isittimeformynapyet · 14/12/2023 01:53

I frequently see "then" instead of "than" and am always curious to know if it's a typo or not.

I even saw it on the front cover of the Telegraph once - something about prices rising faster then forecast.

I'm a dyed-in-the-wool pedant and I've been like it from a very early age. I have tried to get over it but I don't seem to be able to. It's like word OCD.

I do enjoy a nice eggcorn though: a woman posted on our local Nextdoor last Spring asking if anyone had any frogs born for her pond!

mathanxiety · 14/12/2023 03:41

It's a new Christmas tradition, same as the old Christmas tradition.
Mint spice!
Wallah!

Twiglets1 · 14/12/2023 05:14

I generally think you’ve got a point @Getamoveon36

madaboutmad · 14/12/2023 07:47

ColleenDonaghy · 13/12/2023 15:21

The absolute classic example of someone marking themselves as uninformed by criticising something that is correct.

Show quote history

Eh?

ColleenDonaghy · 14/12/2023 08:11

madaboutmad · 14/12/2023 07:47

Eh?

Show quote history

These threads generally descend into ill informed posters criticising others for using words, grammar or pronunciations that they think are wrong but are actually fine.

Haitch is surely the most typical example.

Webex · 14/12/2023 08:16

No-one learns. We have a hugely ignorant population and the results are visible everywhere - but people just blame the government.

Presume you are speaking for yourself here - I love learning.

madaboutmad · 14/12/2023 08:23

ColleenDonaghy · 14/12/2023 08:11

These threads generally descend into ill informed posters criticising others for using words, grammar or pronunciations that they think are wrong but are actually fine.

Haitch is surely the most typical example.

Show quote history

But the name of the letter ‘H’ starts with an ‘Ay’ sound. The sound of the letter and the name are different. A bit like W - name and sound vary.
It’s obviously fine and no one dies, but I do correct my kids.

madaboutmad · 14/12/2023 08:29

madaboutmad · 14/12/2023 08:23

But the name of the letter ‘H’ starts with an ‘Ay’ sound. The sound of the letter and the name are different. A bit like W - name and sound vary.
It’s obviously fine and no one dies, but I do correct my kids.

Show quote history

Although I see Michael Rosen is less sure https://www.theguardian.com/science/shortcuts/2013/nov/04/letter-h-contentious-alphabet-history-alphabetical-rosen

I need to speak to my mum!

@ColleenDonaghy

Why H is the most contentious letter in the alphabet

While writing my book, Alphabetical, about the history of the letters we use, I discovered that debates about power and class surround every letter – and none more so than the letter H

https://www.theguardian.com/science/shortcuts/2013/nov/04/letter-h-contentious-alphabet-history-alphabetical-rosen

brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr · 14/12/2023 08:55

madaboutmad · 13/12/2023 15:43

Could this not an irregular verb? What’s the etymology that makes you correct? I’m not saying you’re not, just interested as to why you’re sure.

Show quote history

To text is a verbified noun, and is a „modern“ verb with no old english etymology. I can’t think of any irregular verbified nouns off the top of my head.

I text, she texts, they text…
I texted, she texted, they texted…

I think the sloppiness comes because it ends with a sound which mimics „-ed“ and those remedials who use „text“ as a past participle think it is one just because it sounds like one.

Round them up and into the sea with them.

Anisette · 14/12/2023 08:59

brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr · 14/12/2023 08:55

To text is a verbified noun, and is a „modern“ verb with no old english etymology. I can’t think of any irregular verbified nouns off the top of my head.

I text, she texts, they text…
I texted, she texted, they texted…

I think the sloppiness comes because it ends with a sound which mimics „-ed“ and those remedials who use „text“ as a past participle think it is one just because it sounds like one.

Round them up and into the sea with them.

Show quote history

100% correct!

VanityDiesHard · 14/12/2023 09:06

BeingATwatItsABingThing · 13/12/2023 12:52

This is all the fault of contractions.

Could’ve should’ve would’ve

I pronounce that coulda woulda shoulda!

Somethingsnappy · 14/12/2023 09:20

threecupsofteaminimum · 14/12/2023 00:03

@Somethingsnappy

Lost your usual punchbag for the night have we?

How these posts end up with people like you picking a fight never ceases to amaze me.

You're being classically defensive, and I understand that, and I'm sorry if I upset you. But your post annoyed me, and I'll try to explain why. You argued with another poster that lack of education and opportunities doesn't equal poor grammar etc. Which shows quite a lack of understanding of the many challenges that many people face. You then highlighted that your own excellent grammar was a result of your endless reading. However the grammar in your post was incorrect (and not in a subtle way either, and no, they weren't typos). I just hope that this may give you pause for thought, and help you to think a little about the struggles other people may have gone through.

Try to rise up to an interesting debate, even if your post has been criticised, without accusing people of needing a punchbag.

threecupsofteaminimum · 14/12/2023 09:23

I think you've become consumed by me. Such an odd amount of concern towards someone you don't even know is telling. Have a good day.

Somethingsnappy · 14/12/2023 09:28

threecupsofteaminimum · 14/12/2023 09:23

I think you've become consumed by me. Such an odd amount of concern towards someone you don't even know is telling. Have a good day.

You too! Cheerio!

ColleenDonaghy · 14/12/2023 09:30

madaboutmad · 14/12/2023 08:29

Although I see Michael Rosen is less sure https://www.theguardian.com/science/shortcuts/2013/nov/04/letter-h-contentious-alphabet-history-alphabetical-rosen

I need to speak to my mum!

@ColleenDonaghy

Show quote history

Exactly - it's a common misapprehension.

Here in NI slagging off either use of the letter H would be seen as sectarian and get you in hot water with HR if you did it in the workplace.

CagneyAndLazy · 14/12/2023 10:47

mn29 · 14/12/2023 00:21

WHY is it so hard for people to get right? (Yes I’m aware the origin is incorrectly hearing ’ve as of).
My new bug bear is his/he's used the wrong way round eg “his off to work at he’s new job”, I’m seeing it all the time now - WTAF.

Indeed.

Go back 25 years and thickos didn't have the same opportunities to publish/broadcast their ignorance, so it went relatively unnoticed.

The internet and social media has changed all that.

SoreAndTired1 · 14/12/2023 11:09

ginasevern · 13/12/2023 16:47

@ColleenDonaghy

I realise gotten is old English, it actually stopped being used in the 18th century. It is correct in American English but it is most definitely not correct in modern English. It would not, for example, be taught in an English lesson or to anyone learning English in the UK. I have only heard it used by young people who have picked it up from social media, which generally emulates Americanisms. What regions is it used in?

I know gotten is used in Australia, in New Zealand and in Canada, as well as America. Basically it is used everywhere in the English-speaking world bar the UK. It is the proper correct English. I don't understand why the UK no longer use the proper term. Yet say 'whilst' for while. Whilst sounds so primative, like doust or doest or something.

I find a lot of English terms aggravating, most of all when someone says "I am sat", or "I was sat". Same with "I was stood", "I am stood". Has the word SITTING and the word STANDING gone out of UK usage along with gotten? What is that about? I am sat doesn't look right or even sound right said out loud. It sounds like bad broken English. To be so old fashioned/Shakespearean that you use 'whilst' but then say I am stood or I am sat, often in the same post, is so absolutely contradictory, it really jars. It's like going 0-1000 from super-posh to really badly mangled English.

SoreAndTired1 · 14/12/2023 11:22

ginasevern · 13/12/2023 18:14

@ColleenDonaghy

"But that's my point - gotten IS correct, so why criticise it? You don't need to use it or even like it, but it's a very normal, everyday word in many parts of the world."

Colleen, gotten is not correct in the English language as taught in England so I'm not sure what your point actually is. You seem determined to tell me that it is correct when it isn't. Using other parts of the world as an example hardly proves your point either. Yes, it is correct in America and Canada as the past participle of the word got, but not in England. I'm not talking about other parts of the world or indeed England in the year 1780. It irritates me when people born, raised and educated in England use the word gotten just as the word normalcy does instead of normality. I'm criticising the word because this was an open debate inviting people to air their pet hates in the English language. I haven't just dropped into a thread about holidays in Tenerife!

Then England is in the wrong for not teaching the word gotten. It is correct English and England is behind and lowering their standards by abandoning proper English. Time to pressure Education Departments in England to bring proper English back to the curriculum. The word gotten is correct, and England is wrong for not teaching that.

mn29 · 14/12/2023 11:40

CagneyAndLazy · 14/12/2023 10:47

Indeed.

Go back 25 years and thickos didn't have the same opportunities to publish/broadcast their ignorance, so it went relatively unnoticed.

The internet and social media has changed all that.

Show quote history

Yes and it’s definitely a case of people seeing incorrect spelling and grammar all the time on social media compounding the problem. I feel like I see the incorrect use of your/you’re and there/their/they’re more often than the correct one, to the point where I’m starting to check that I’m using it correctly! I need to stay away from the fb page for local mums.

saraclara · 14/12/2023 11:55

Go back 25 years and thickos didn't have the same opportunities to publish/broadcast their ignorance, so it went relatively unnoticed.

Let's not use the word thickos for people with literacy problems (or at all, frankly)

But broadly, yes, I think that the less literate weren't as noticeable until social media came along. As a teacher though, I have seen a significant deterioration in SPAG in many younger colleagues, so there has to be another reason for that.

Webex · 14/12/2023 12:09

I can’t think of any irregular verbified nouns off the top of my head

Drink is an irregular verbified noun.

Edit - and sleep.

furtivetussling · 14/12/2023 12:13

BeingATwatItsABingThing · 13/12/2023 12:52

This is all the fault of contractions.

Could’ve should’ve would’ve

We know.

TrishTrix · 14/12/2023 12:39

I think I write well. I certainly understand spelling and grammar. I often make errors on here though because I type on my phone and it's harder to spot mistakes. I really should use the preview button more but I'm normally in a hurry.

However at work I suffer the indignity of having my well written documents hashed about by someone I suspect really struggled to get GCSE English. It's really painful to see basic grammatical errors inserted.

However, some of the stuff highlighted on here is regional variation and mocking it is, I think a bit insensitive. Oh and outwith is the best word in the world!

sugarweregoingdownsinging · 14/12/2023 14:34

@TrishTrix I forget that other places don't use 'outwith'. I find is so odd (to realise that) 'cos I use it all the time!
I'm rather intrigued about what your job is. Trying to decide what role would require others to write up your work. Doctor? Journalist? Writer? I'm just being nosey really!

Ooh but there's another one! Nosey. Why does the y not replace the e? Or is it nosy? My autocorrect's letting me use both. That's me heading down another spelling rabbit hole 🕳️ 🐇