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Pedants' corner
Original poster

Would of, should of, could of...

32 replies

Salleroo · 17/12/2008 15:50

It's have ffs. Where did of come from? It drives me insane. If you are too lazy to type the extra 2 letters then at least use would've... Grrrrrr

OP posts:
luvlydECMOrations · 17/12/2008 15:51

I HATE that, my children always say it like that too.
I think it came from the spelling would've should've, could've

hippipotami · 17/12/2008 15:53

But surely luvly everyone knows that 've stands for have

It is my main bugbear, I want to shout HAVE every time someone says or types 'should of'

Doodle2U · 17/12/2008 15:53

My pet-hate is "Woz ya?"

PuppyMonkeyNuts · 17/12/2008 15:58

Off of is another good one.

I took the kettle off of the stove.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah.

Me and DP say this as a pisstake all the time now though.

PrimulaVeris · 17/12/2008 16:00

It's a crime against humanity. Every time I see it the red mist descends

It is so awful that expressions like, like in every phrase, like? pale into insignificance

Neeerly3 · 17/12/2008 16:01

it's because of how it sounds, would've, should've SOUNDS like would of, should of, so its just been translated as such and people have not been educated otherwise.

hippipotami · 17/12/2008 16:10

Fair enough neeerly, but do people need specific education regarding this? Surely picking up a book once a year would suffice?

English is my third language, and I was never taught the grammar side of things, just what I needed to get by in an English speaking school I joined at age 15, and even I know it is have not of.

To me it is another example of the dumbing down of the language. People are too lazy to speak / write properly.
Shame because it makes them look thick.

Original poster
Salleroo · 17/12/2008 16:13

Glad you all agree. I nearly corrected someone on a thread today because of it, just backed out. But will pick friends up on it. Jesus, these are people with degrees. This is basic english.

OP posts:
redhotredhead · 17/12/2008 16:14

OMG yes! Have never been to pedant's corner before but saw this and yes it's like nails down a blackboard! It is sheer ignorance because it does sound like would've. Aargh.

Neeerly3 · 17/12/2008 16:24

i wasn't justifying it, does my head in too, but I am just saying in todays society when text speak is the norm, would of, should of, could of is actually quite advanced!

Neeerly3 · 17/12/2008 16:25

although by far the worst gripe I have is there, they're and their....now THAT does wind me up!

sobloodystupid · 17/12/2008 16:31

I say "off of " but I'm going to claim diplomatic cultural immunity, afaik using this is directly translating from Irish... but "would of" etc aargh!
I can't stand it when people use "basically" or "going forward", makes me boak...

hippipotami · 17/12/2008 16:37

Actually yes neeerly, textspeak is the root of all evil, I agree!

My SIL does not know the difference between bought and brought, drives me insane!!!

NewHollyOtherIvy · 17/12/2008 16:37

I agree with everybody here; my main fingernails-down-a-chalkboard reaction to the misuse of the english language is using "done" instead of "did" ARRRRHGGHGGGHHHH... drives me to complete distraction. DS used to do it all the time because that's how his dad (ex-DP) speaks. It took a while but it was worth it, he corrects people now

thumbElf · 17/12/2008 16:37

It's because they don't know the grammar and are writing what they hear - so would've sounds like "would uv" and thus "would of" looks like it sounds.

I cant STAND it.

samsonara · 17/12/2008 16:39

Around here I hear people say woulda, couda or shouda! Which sounds like it should be in a song !

Original poster
Salleroo · 17/12/2008 16:43

All of the above bug me, I should hang out in pedants corner more often . Used to write technical manuals and one that always got the red pen was - If you wish to save the document. Now I wish upon stars, an effing Word document? I either want or dont want to save it. Desire was bandied about now and then. I save my desire for my man, not my bloody work computer and its workings.

My brother mixed up there with their the other day in an email and I was embarassed for him. He is the Director or a company fgs. If you correspond on paper or by email use the spellcheck.

Double negatives anyone???

And 'I'm not been funny right, but...' annoying, anyone???

OP posts:
Original poster
Salleroo · 17/12/2008 16:44

I always type loose first and then correct, that's a trickster.

OP posts:
NewHollyOtherIvy · 17/12/2008 16:45

Oh I am really tempted to correct the grammar in some of the threads on here but I know I'd be shot down in flames, so I don't bother.

samsonara · 17/12/2008 16:46

I don't really belong here I'm rubbish at grammar and spelling...but even I get confused when someone says "If I don't not do it, what will he think?"

thumbElf · 17/12/2008 16:48

no no salleroo - it's "I'm not BEING funny, right, but..."

lose --> lost.
(present) (past)

hope that helps.

My DH is Australian and they go a bundle on double negatives - I am working on him but then we go back to Australia and his mum does it all the time as well!

Original poster
Salleroo · 17/12/2008 17:58

that been was deliberate I'll have you know.

Does he add the mandatory O to everything too? Arvo, smoko...

You can tell when people get back from a working hol to Oz as every sentence ends in a question.

OP posts:
thumbElf · 17/12/2008 19:13

oh yes, for sure, with the "o" thing - but not so much with the question thing; that seems to be area dependent, it's less obvious in his area of NSW (just above Central coast).

Original poster
Salleroo · 17/12/2008 19:22

Righto mate

OP posts:
thumbElf · 17/12/2008 19:27

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