...to remind you that it's "could have" not "could of"

[LostInShoebiz]

Just that. It's my pet hate and I can take no more.

It's bad enough seeing it in print but actually hearing the spoken words, well, words fail me.

but why are you only allowed to talk about these things Betsey, I dont get it?

is it a rule from MNHQ? if it is fine, I'll accept it but I dont get why? as I said before, if someone said they hated my style of posting, I'd think fair enough, they are allowed their opinion, but I would get over it

if someone with dyslexia is being hounded that's another story, but surely we can discuss simple grammatical errors without being told to go post elsewhere?

sorry Betsey, I meant in pedants corner

snap op, I'm in Glasgow and you dont hear could of here

you do hear coulda though

I don't agree either ssd, and I think the same as you. I probably only post there when sth bugs me because I don't fancy a bun fight with the over sensitive.

I knew what you meant !

Language evolves over time, its not set in stone. Drag yourself into the 21st century.

Gnother, the only patronising posts here, if any, have been yours. I'm finished with explaining this to you.

So Julie has it evolved enough to change to a verb with a completely different meaning?

Not even a verb, a preposition.

has it evolved enough to change to a verb with a completely different meaning?

Not my call, depends on how much it is used.

I'd love to see the statistics on the number of people with poor SPaG due to learning difficulties versus laziness - I'd be willing to bet that those with learning difficulties are very much the minority. Plenty of people that I went to school with make the kind of mistakes listed on this thread, yet I know they weren't SEN students when we were at school together.

I'll accept this as a language evolution when it becomes commonplace in reputable media or is added to a dictionary. Until then, it's still a mistake.

Should of
gone to another optician.

Might of saved some money.

Couldn't of put it better myself.

My accent makes its sound like I'm saying "could of" when I say "could've"

But I guess the fact I drop all my T's and H's would probably drive most MNers wild anyway

It is 'different from' usual threads on MN

So well said OP.

The way you communicate counts, anyone who says otherwise is kidding themselves

Agreed. Write 'Could of, should of' etc. on a job application for a role where your written communication skills are needed and see what happens.

It annoys me too. I work with people from all over Europe and parts of Asia, all with English as a second (or third) language. If they can get it right I don't see why it's such an issue for a native English speaker. In my line of work I receive a lot of CVs and help prepare a lot of marketing material, invariably it's the native English speakers who present texts riddled with apostrophes for plurals, basic spelling mistakes and generally appalling grammar. CVs with SPAG mistakes go in the bin, to me the fact you haven't even bothered to check it indicates sloppiness. Similarly I get exasperated when a newsletter or other such communication goes out to a multinational client full of errant apostrophes and could ofs. This is often to senior management in other, non anglophone countries and believe me, they do notice. German/Dutch/Scandi teens are speaking better English than your kids, plus they have other languages to boot. Latin countries are catching up as well. Soon it will only be the English speaking bad English.

I really don't get the defensiveness either, it appears that ignorance is almost a virtue for some.

In my view, this is also a symptom of classic Brit monolingualism, had MFL been given the importance it should have and actually taught properly in schools, these basic grammar errors would simply not occur. Learning other languages improves the knowledge of your own.

But how does it effect you, OP?

I speak three languages Melassa, I need no reminder from you or anybody else. Your post is so pompous, it makes me cringe. Your ignorance of other people's discomfort at their spelling and grammar being corrected is offensive.

Presumably people who deal with you professionally ask for your input. That is the difference if it was a bit subtle for you.

I agree with you @Melassa
I teach MFL and often find myself correcting pupils' English rather than the foreign language they study

Loose your shit whilst you are all at it. My favourite hate has to be said.