Teacher at school sent a message saying "should of". WWYD?

[QueenThora]

It's hard for me to be subjective because this teacher (not my own DC teacher) is initiating a new activity for the whole school that seems to be badly organised and is causing a hassle.

So I was already kind of annoyed with them already, but getting a parentmail with a correction to their previous mailing, saying "In my last letter x should of been y" has pushed me over the edge.

I get on well with the school, have a good relationship with them, and am not known for kicking up a fuss. Do I say anything? Although I am a pedant, I'm not a total stickler. I realise mistakes with punctuation etc. can happen and I generally let them go – but "should of" suggests ongoing ignorance, not a slip-up.

[salonmeblowy]

I feel your pain. I only found your thread because I spotted that error on one of the threads in Chat and had come here to relieve the urge to bleach my eyeballs. I am a bit stressed at the moment, does it show?

Replacing 'have' with 'of' is by far the most annoying error anyone could make. English can be such a beautiful language, but it requires a basic understanding of grammar, since grammar carries meaning in English much more than it does in Romance or Slavic languages, where temporality is expressed not just through correct syntax, but also through a host of adverbial phrases that are not widely used in English.

Anyone who does not know the correct form of the third conditional clearly has no idea how language relates to their own subjective experience of time. However, all that pedantry and pent-up anger would most likely just make weep in the corner instead of confronting the school.

[brighthouse]

Get a life.

[salonmeblowy]

correction: just make me weep

[BabyMummy29]

You're right, "should of" isn't a typo. Anyone can make a typo, especially when in a hurry, but for a teacher to write that is inexcusable.

Sadly it's all too common, along with other SPAG howlers among teachers nowadays.

[QueenThora]

There there salon, it is mandatory for us pedants to make errors on a pedants' corner thread. :o

Brighthouse, you're in the wrong topic dear. Pedantry is my life!

[Thisvehicleisreversing]

I took great pleasure in correcting the teacher's comments in my son's school book at parents' evening.

She had written 'Well done, your a great poet'


Out came my red pen.

[Teatimetinny]

Yes I would definitely raise it somehow. Probably a letter sent directly to the teacher who wrote it, explaining why it's wrong, and explaining that your concern is that children will be taught the wrong thing in school. Absolutely terrible!

[DoctorDonnaNoble]

Now I know why my secondary students do this!

[chicaguapa]

It would annoy me too! I do think that all teachers should have higher than grade C in GCSE English tbh. In DH's secondary school they're trying to improve literacy skills in all departments but even the literacy coordinator in the science department is prone to mistakes!

I would mention it in person at the school office if it was me. But I'm quite friendly with them so it wouldn't be a big deal if I did. But the school should be aware that it doesn't give a good impression of the teacher.

[Pheonixisrising]

I would have to correct them , that would really annoy me

[badtime]

amicissimma, I am a proud pedant. I am happy to confront and explain why people are wrong in pretty much any situation.

Given this background, I take great pleasure in pointing out that the 'singular they' has been in use since at least the 14th century (i.e. even before Modern English). It was used by Shakespeare. The idea that it is wrong is one of those dreadful 18th/19th century stylistic-preference-turned-rule abominations, like not splitting infinitives or not ending sentences on prepositions.

The singular they is traditional, well understood and useful in a language which does not do gender-neutral very well.

In conclusion, you will pry my singular they from my cold, dead hands.