Tuesday, May 10, 2011

WOULDA COUDA SHOULDA

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


7 comments:

  1. You, my dear, are a great grammar geek, and I love you for it!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ah shucks. Thanks my Legal Eagle. You haven't posted in a while and I miss you!

    Love,
    Lola

    ReplyDelete
  3. Gawd now I feel this overwhelming urge to comb over all my posts!
    Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  4. 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.

    Love,
    Lola

    ReplyDelete
  5. Well thanks for the clarification, who knows what I would of done with Larry's balls otherwise.

    ReplyDelete
  6. You are most welcome Mrs. Tuna. Thank you so much for joining us.

    Infinities of love,

    Lola

    ReplyDelete
  7. 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.

    Love,
    Lola

    ReplyDelete

Got your panties in a bunch? Dig 'em out, get comfortable, and let's chat.