Sorry, I know I shouldn't let it get to me but...

[Debian]

... it does.

Whenever I read a post where the writer uses 'of' instead of 'have' (or 've), as in he should of paid more attention, or as in he must of felt silly.

It's should have or must have!!!!!

If you need to abbreviate it it's should've or must've.

More and more people seem to be writing this malapropism, why? It's such a simple thing to remember and it makes the red mist descent every time I read it. I know I shouldn't judge but it also makes me jump to the uninformed conclusion that the writer is a bit thick.

Please stop doing it!!!

 

[Rhythm Thief]

"Descend", not "descent". But I agree with you, it's one of the things that I find annoying too.

 

[Greedo]

... it does.

Whenever I read a post where the writer uses 'of' instead of 'have' (or 've), as in he should of paid more attention, or as in he must of felt silly.

It's should have or must have!!!!!

If you need to abbreviate it it's should've or must've.

More and more people seem to be writing this malapropism, why? It's such a simple thing to remember and it makes the red mist descent every time I read it. I know I shouldn't judge but it also makes me jump to the uninformed conclusion that the writer is a bit thick.

Please stop doing it!!!

Name the culprits???????

 

[Greedo]

"Descend", not "descent". But I agree with you, it's one of the things that I find annoying too.

Ha

 

[thomas]

I guess more and more people should of proof read their posts before posting.

 

[Debian]

I guess more and more people should of proof read their posts before posting.

Correct, trouble is I did, and still missed that

But it was a typo and not a misuse of grammar.

 

[Debian]

Name the culprits???????

No, that wouldn't be fair.

 

[gaz]

i'm dyslexic.. it all looks wrong to me

 

[thomas]

Correct, trouble is I did, and still missed that

But it was a typo and not a misuse of grammar.

oh i wasn't doing that, I was just trying to annoying you with my 'of'

(or did I use it correctly? Oh who knows ...I guess I should of paid more attention in school)

 

[Debian]

oh i wasn't doing that, I was just trying to annoying you with my 'of'

(or did I use it correctly? Oh who knows ...I guess I should of paid more attention in school)

Didn't want to comment on that directly to you, I'm too polite for that, lol

 

[rh100]

It's just a forum - get over it Communication is about being understood - not showing off your grasp of correct grammar.

 

[Debian]

It's just a forum - get over it Communication is about being understood - not showing off your grasp of correct grammar.

Nothing is 'just' anything though. The odd typo or misspelling is fine in a forum but the 'of' thing is a basic mistake that the writer probably uses in all forms of communication from a CV to a forum post.

And why is it OK to be sloppy anyway, forum or not? Misuse of grammar can contribute to being harder to understand. Lawyers make a lot of money from misplaced commas, etc.

 

[rh100]

I think forum posts are casual in nature. My emails would be written differently, and my letters and CV's would be different again. It is Ok to be a bit sloppy IMO - it's just chit chat after all. If you prefer to write correctly then fine - but try not to look down on those that don't. What annoys me is people who pick apart others posts - especially when it's obvious they are struggling a bit. It's a cycling forum - not a grammar forum. It could be worse - have you seen how teenagers write on facebook? It's like a different language

 

[vernon]

It's just a forum - get over it Communication is about being understood - not showing off your grasp of correct grammar.

It might be just a forum but uncorrected sloppiness contributes to the deterioration of the written form of English. It's worrying when some of my younger colleagues mangle written English. My school has abandoned written reports and instead use graded summaries of performance and attainment - the written reports of some of my colleagues were embarrassing to read.

If communication is all about being understood, why do examination boards at all levels of attainment rail against the poor standards of English used in examinations?

 

[Debian]

I don't pick anyone's posts apart "face to face" as I said earlier, I like to think I'm too polite to do that.

But what is so wrong, in a general thread like this one, to point out the general error? Is no one allowed to correct things any more? I would prefer to have any errors I make pointed out to me so that I can learn something new.

If no one is ever corrected then errors perpetuate.