When Should I Put 'Should of' and Would of' ?

[campion]

I jest.

It could just be that I'm noticing this aberration more often, or that it really is becoming everyday written English (as well as spoken).
If the latter

[Bluerussian]

You don't write (or say), "Should of", or "Would of".
It's "Should have" and "Would have".

The 'of' really is an aberration. I saw it on here three or four times on Sunday and was appalled.

[usernamepinched]

You got me, OP!

[Fifthtimelucky]

It was common in the 1960s in my village primary school in the West Country. We just see it written down more often these days, because of social media.

[campion]

[BernardsarenotalwaysSaints]

It’s should/ could have not of. As Blue says it’s actually an abbreviation. I think it can depend on your accent though. With mine it sounds like should/could ‘av rather than of. I realised this (& how my accent must sound) when my, at the time, just 5 yo dc wrote “I shood av gorn to bed at 7 but went at 7:10 insted”

[Hotchox]

Grammar standards will tumble over the next few generations. These days loads of what the average person reads will be written by 'normal' folk. Whereas back in the day you'd always be reading stuff written by someone paid to write it - so it would be a higher standard grammatically (and probably edited to correct any mistakes). Constructions like 'would of' will start to creep into professionally written text, as less people understand it to be wrong, so even more people will pick it up. It's been going on for years anyway, previously it was stuff like split infinitives and words changing their meaning etc....

[sunshinesupermum]

should HAVE and would HAVE

Don't schools teach English grammar any more?

[UnderPompeii]

Oh dear OP you should of explained you were only teasing

[Spinnaret]

I assume that several of the responders on this thread did not even read the first two words of the OP, let alone any further. Attention to detail, people.

[campion]

I agree Hotchox but we're all keyboard warriors now, eh?!

You did mean to write fewer,didn't you
(Disclaimer: Pedants' Corner)

[campion]

Cheers Spinnaret

[MerryMarigold]

This thread is insightful just to show how few people read OPs! Well English grammar is being taught pretty strictly nowadays in school, so not sure. Maybe over the generations it will reverse a bit.

[Carrottes]

Is it because could've and should've sound like could of and should of so people got confused down the line somewhere?
I don't know. It's a pet hate of mine too and I most certainly am not a pedant

[Bluerussian]

Another thing that I've heard is, "Bored of", when it should be, 'Bored with'.

[MerryMarigold]

I always say bored of

[Bluerussian]

Smack wrists, don't do it again!