Gentle Readers,
I would appreciate it very much if you would be on the lookout for an error that I see more and more frequently. It's almost to the point that I can say it's ubiquitous.
Please watch the transition here from correct to incorrect. I hope it explains how I think we arrive at incorrect.
Correct: Would have - - Should have -- Could have
I would have cut off Larry's balls but he apologized when I went to get the scissors.
Correct but not as precise: Would've -- Should've -- Could've
I should've cut off Larry's balls, but he ran away when I approached with the scissors.
Incorrect: Would of -- Should of -- Could of
Stop! In the name of love - - before you break my heart. Think it o-o-ver.
See where we've ended? We've moved from a correct word to an incorrect word, and I think it's because of the spoken Would've, Should've, Could've. That VE sound seems to cause many listeners to believe it is OF. Thus, it leads writers to an incorrect word. The word should be HAVE, not OF. I see OF employed more and more frequently in place of HAVE.
Also, please watch out for "reasons why." It's redundant. You don't need "why" after you've written or said "reasons."
Your Lola is always looking for ways to help you improve your clarity and also enjoys being the dispenser of knowledge that has passed over so many innocent people's heads.
Infinities of love,
Lola
My motto as an editor: Authors are the authority on their work. I'm a full-service editor. For a reasonable fee, I'm your writing coach from the first suggested revision to the correction of the final typo.
You, my dear, are a great grammar geek, and I love you for it!
ReplyDeleteAh shucks. Thanks my Legal Eagle. You haven't posted in a while and I miss you!
ReplyDeleteLove,
Lola
Gawd now I feel this overwhelming urge to comb over all my posts!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
Please don't fret Sandra. A blog is not formal writing. Use whatever words you want and spell them however you like. Nuttin will change the fack that yer hillarious.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Lola
Well thanks for the clarification, who knows what I would of done with Larry's balls otherwise.
ReplyDeleteYou are most welcome Mrs. Tuna. Thank you so much for joining us.
ReplyDeleteInfinities of love,
Lola
Oh, and Mrs. Tuna, now that I've checked out your blog, may I suggest cooking Larry's Balls? Sound like a great recipe name to me.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Lola