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Pedants' corner

To point out that it’s have, not of.

99 replies

Bluekerfuffle · 30/04/2023 13:03

There have been a couple of threads recently with the word “of” after “should” or “would”. It doesn’t make sense. It’s “should have”, “would have”.
It causes me great distress, so I’m hoping if I point it out, it won’t occur so often. I can’t even write the incorrect phrase as autocorrect changes it immediately, so why is it so common here?

OP posts:

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myheartmyhead · 30/04/2023 13:04

It causes you great distress??? okay

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dietcokelime · 30/04/2023 13:04

You should of posted on the threads to tell them.

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NeatCompactSleeper · 30/04/2023 13:05

Grow up.

This has been done to death and if you can't handle reading poor grammar, the internet is not for you.

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yellowsmileyface · 30/04/2023 13:06

Great distress is a tad dramatic. Does it really matter?

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WandaWonder · 30/04/2023 13:06

Distress? Surely of not of?

A smell a rat, should of?

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Botw1 · 30/04/2023 13:09

It happens, fairly obviously, because would've sounds like would of

If those is genuinely causing you great distress, then I suggest you need help

(Its not even anywhere as bad as brought/bought/draw/drawer anyway!)

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uglybettty · 30/04/2023 13:10

Maybe because in the big wider world people have differing levels of education, or differing levels of intelligence, or are dyslexic. Or they just don't care about spelling everything correctly or using the 'correct' grammar all the time. It's really not that deep. Bit OTT to say it causes you great distress. Must be a hard life for you.

There's a place for this type of post on MN. It's in Pedants Corner not AIBU. Maybe you should have posted this there and you could all slag people poor grammar off together.

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Toottooot · 30/04/2023 13:11

Thanks - I didn’t know that. 💁🏻‍♀️

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HinCogNeetOh · 30/04/2023 13:11

You can FRO to Pedants' Corner with your great distress.

HQ rightly take a dim view of criticism of the grammar and language used by Mumsnetters; you do not know if the person is using an aid, or has not had the same educational opportunities you had.

HTH

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carriedout · 30/04/2023 13:12

You are being unreasonable not to of posted in Pedants' Corner about this uptight pointless stuff

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Americano75 · 30/04/2023 13:17

I work with adults who, through no fault of their own, have poor literacy skills and I spend a lot of time reassuring them that so long as they can make themselves understood it doesn't matter if their spelling and grammar isn't 100%. Their distress is real and meaningful. Yours is not.

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araiwa · 30/04/2023 13:19

Have course

Thanks for letting us no

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HigherPower · 30/04/2023 13:20

araiwa · 30/04/2023 13:19

Have course

Thanks for letting us no

🤣

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JuneShitfield · 30/04/2023 13:20

Wrighty hoe.

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yellowsmileyface · 30/04/2023 13:20

It's also worth noting that not everyone on MN speaks English as a first language.

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DanceBeneathADiamondSky · 30/04/2023 13:22

dietcokelime · 30/04/2023 13:04

You should of posted on the threads to tell them.

😂

Totally should of. This reminds me of the time I brought something new at the shop to take somewhere and should of just bought the old one I already had mwahahah

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Throwncrumbs · 30/04/2023 13:22

It just tells me that the person writing it wrong only had basic education, doesn’t make me distressed though.

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ChickenDhansak82 · 30/04/2023 13:26

It's basic English and anyone not knowing this clearly didn't pay much attention at school!

It similar to posts where people can't express themselves easily due to very poor use of English grammar, then rant and rave when people don't understand what they're trying to say.

It's a key skill to avoiding conflict being able to express yourself clearly without misunderstanding.

So I guess if you didn't know should've = should have, then you do now!

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faffadoodledo · 30/04/2023 13:26

yellowsmileyface · 30/04/2023 13:20

It's also worth noting that not everyone on MN speaks English as a first language.

I bet most of those for whom English is a second language get it right!

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NeatCompactSleeper · 30/04/2023 13:27

faffadoodledo · 30/04/2023 13:26

I bet most of those for whom English is a second language get it right!

Show quote history

Why?

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eloquent · 30/04/2023 13:27

Classist and ableist

How lovely

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faffadoodledo · 30/04/2023 13:29

@NeatCompactSleeper because they may come from countries were education is prized. They may also have taken grammar lessons or an interest in grammar while learning English - something most native english speakers do not do.

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CheezePleeze · 30/04/2023 13:30

ChickenDhansak82 · 30/04/2023 13:26

It's basic English and anyone not knowing this clearly didn't pay much attention at school!

It similar to posts where people can't express themselves easily due to very poor use of English grammar, then rant and rave when people don't understand what they're trying to say.

It's a key skill to avoiding conflict being able to express yourself clearly without misunderstanding.

So I guess if you didn't know should've = should have, then you do now!

It's basic English and anyone not knowing this clearly didn't pay much attention at school!

I'm very embarrassed for you if your intelligence levels are this low.

Can you really not think of any other reasons? I mean even if you sit down in a dark room and really really try to tax that little brain?

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faffadoodledo · 30/04/2023 13:32

@NeatCompactSleeper because they may come from countries were education is prized. They may also have taken grammar lessons or an interest in grammar while learning English - something most native english speakers do not do.

Oh the irony! I of course meant 'where' not were!

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NeatCompactSleeper · 30/04/2023 13:33

faffadoodledo · 30/04/2023 13:29

@NeatCompactSleeper because they may come from countries were education is prized. They may also have taken grammar lessons or an interest in grammar while learning English - something most native english speakers do not do.

Indeed some may have but I wouldn't guess 'most' have. Certainly not in my area of London, which is extremely diverse.

And yet, most people tend to make themselves understood without people like the OP sneering at them.

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