# could OF? would OF? should OF? ::::banging head on keyboard:::: **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 4, 2001, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-of-would-of-should-of-banging-head-on-keyboard/67596 "2001-06-04T23:44:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2001, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-of-would-of-should-of-banging-head-on-keyboard/67596/1 "2001-06-04T23:44:10Z")
It’s could HAVE, would HAVE and should HAVE. Now write that 100 times on the board and never make that mistake again! My forehead is getting sore and bloody and my keyboard is getting sticky, so I’d appreciate action on this soonest. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2001, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-of-would-of-should-of-banging-head-on-keyboard/67596/2 "2001-06-04T23:51:15Z")
Yikes! That just doesn’t seem to be worth the corpuscles. Might as well forget about it. “Could of” will probably be standard usage in a couple of generations anyway. \ What can you do? Not a lot, right? ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2001, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-of-would-of-should-of-banging-head-on-keyboard/67596/3 "2001-06-04T23:58:23Z")
lolololol!!! u r sooooo funnee, opelcat!!! i wish i posted that first i even thot about it! yea, i really shoudl of! ur the best!!! ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2001, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-of-would-of-should-of-banging-head-on-keyboard/67596/4 "2001-06-05T00:09:10Z")
You know what’s pathetic? I thought the title said “could OF?, etc.” as if it were the two letters O-F. I said to myself “Could O-F what? What is O-F? Opalcat will explain it in her post, I’m sure…” ---
**Author:** ![Gr8Kat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gr8kat/32/18668_2.png) [@Gr8Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gr8Kat)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2001, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-of-would-of-should-of-banging-head-on-keyboard/67596/5 "2001-06-05T00:18:00Z")
I’ll admit to saying “could’ve” or “would’ve” when speaking, which could sound like “could of” or “would of,” but if people are actually _writing_ “of” instead of “'ve”… yeah, that’s annoying. Right up there with “loose” and “lose,” “then” and “than,” “your” and “you’re,” and “its” and “it’s.” Yuppers. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Lao](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2bfe46/32.png) [@Dr.Lao](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Lao)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2001, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-of-would-of-should-of-banging-head-on-keyboard/67596/6 "2001-06-05T00:27:33Z")
**andros** :You’re the devil, right? ---
**Author:** ![White\_Lightning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@White\_Lightning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/White_Lightning)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2001, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-of-would-of-should-of-banging-head-on-keyboard/67596/7 "2001-06-05T03:17:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by bordelond \* > \*\*Might as well forget about it. “Could of” will probably be standard usage in a couple of generations anyway. > > \ What can you do? Not a lot, right? \*\* and that’s the worst fucking part! illiterate retards get to guide the future of our language, _and they have every right to do so!!!_ that just burns be up. arrgghh! ---
**Author:** ![White\_Lightning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@White\_Lightning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/White_Lightning)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2001, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-of-would-of-should-of-banging-head-on-keyboard/67596/8 "2001-06-05T03:20:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by White Lightning \* > and that’s the worst fucking part! illiterate retards get to guide the future of our language, _and they have every right to do so!!!_ that just burns be up. arrgghh! that would be "burns **me** up, you illiterate retard! ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2001, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-of-would-of-should-of-banging-head-on-keyboard/67596/9 "2001-06-05T03:24:48Z")
Sorry, but the correct usage is “coulda, woulda, shoulda.” You can look it up. Okay, I have no idea WHERE, but it’s all over Google. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2001, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-of-would-of-should-of-banging-head-on-keyboard/67596/10 "2001-06-05T03:34:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by OpalCat \* > \*\*It’s could HAVE, would HAVE and should HAVE. > > Now write that 100 times on the board and never make that mistake again! \*\* Jesus. You’re strict! Well, if I gotta, I guess I gotta … It’s could HAVE, would HAVE and should HAVE. It’s could HAVE, would HAVE and should HAVE. It’s could HAVE, would HAVE and should HAVE. It’s could HAVE, would HAVE and should HAVE. It’s could HAVE, would HAVE and should HAVE. It’s could HAVE, would HAVE and should HAVE. It’s could HAVE, would HAVE and should HAVE. It’s could HAVE, would HAVE and should HAVE. It’s could HAVE, would HAVE and should HAVE. It’s could HAVE, would HAVE and should HAVE. It’s could HAVE, would HAVE and should HAVE. It’s could HAVE, would HAVE and should HAVE. It’s could HAVE, would HAVE and should HAVE. It’s could HAVE, would HAVE and should HAVE. It’s could HAVE, would HAVE and should HAVE. It’s could HAVE, would HAVE and should HAVE. It’s could HAVE, would HAVE and should HAVE. It’s could HAVE, would HAVE and should HAVE. It’s could HAVE, would HAVE and should HAVE. It’s could HAVE, would HAVE and should HAVE. It’s could HAVE, would HAVE and should HAVE. It’s could HAVE, would HAVE and should HAVE. It’s could HAVE, would HAVE and should HAVE. It’s could HAVE, would HAVE and should HAVE. It’s could HAVE, would HAVE and should HAVE. It’s could HAVE, would HAVE and should HAVE. It’s could HAVE, would HAVE and should HAVE. It’s could HAVE, would HAVE and should HAVE. It’s could HAVE, would HAVE and should HAVE. It’s could HAVE, would HAVE and should HAVE. It’s could HAVE, would HAVE and should HAVE. It’s could HAVE, would HAVE and should HAVE. It’s could HAVE, would HAVE and should HAVE. It’s could HAVE, would HAVE and should HAVE. It’s could HAVE, would HAVE and should HAVE. It’s could HAVE, would HAVE and should HAVE. It’s could HAVE, would HAVE and should HAVE. It’s could HAVE, would HAVE and should HAVE. It’s could HAVE, would HAVE and should HAVE. It’s could HAVE, would HAVE and should HAVE. … my hand’s getting tired. Can I stop now? ---
**Author:** ![Crunchy\_Frog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ebca7d/32.png) [@Crunchy\_Frog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crunchy_Frog)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2001, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-of-would-of-should-of-banging-head-on-keyboard/67596/11 "2001-06-05T03:41:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jack Batty \* > \*\*… my hand’s getting tired. Can I stop now? \*\* You’d better stop or you’ll go blind! Ah yes, the joys of spelling phonetically. Disregard the meaning behind the words. It sounds like they’re saying “of” so fuck it, they write “of.” Just laziness, if you ask me. Can’t be bothered to think about what’s being written, just write it the way it sounds. Don’t kids learn about abbreviations in school anymore? ---
**Author:** ![StephenG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7feea3/32.png) [@StephenG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StephenG)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2001, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-of-would-of-should-of-banging-head-on-keyboard/67596/12 "2001-06-05T03:47:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Crunchy Frog \* > \*\*Don’t kids learn about abbreviations in school anymore? \*\* Fuck abbreviations, **Crunchy** , how about contractions? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Crunchy\_Frog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ebca7d/32.png) [@Crunchy\_Frog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crunchy_Frog)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2001, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-of-would-of-should-of-banging-head-on-keyboard/67596/13 "2001-06-05T03:52:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by StephenG \* > \*\*Fuck abbreviations, **Crunchy** , how about contractions? 😃 \*\* Those too. Dammit. I’m going to crawl back into my hole now. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2001, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-of-would-of-should-of-banging-head-on-keyboard/67596/14 "2001-06-05T03:54:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Crunchy Frog \* > \*\*You’d better stop or you’ll go blind! > \*\* Aw, that’s just a big myth, anyway, ya goof. Now if you’ll excuse me I have to go shave my palms. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2001, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-of-would-of-should-of-banging-head-on-keyboard/67596/15 "2001-06-05T04:14:51Z")
> [@](#): > > Aw, that’s just a big myth, anyway, ya goof. “A myth. Myth! Myth!” “Yeth?” ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2001, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-of-would-of-should-of-banging-head-on-keyboard/67596/16 "2001-06-05T04:54:33Z")
Ahem … I was just perusing the Master’s latest article - on Mary Magdalene and Jesus. In it I found the following quote (bolding mine): “But writing at the remove of two thousand years, I can also say: **coulda** been.” So, I say to you, **Opal** , AHA!! And I took all that time to cut and pas…, er, I mean to write all that crap out over and over. I expect a hand massage. ---
**Author:** ![Jalapeno\_On\_A\_Stick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/898d66/32.png) [@Jalapeno\_On\_A\_Stick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jalapeno_On_A_Stick)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2001, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-of-would-of-should-of-banging-head-on-keyboard/67596/17 "2001-06-05T05:22:21Z")
It’s: Could’ve Would’ve Should’ve When someone makes the above statement, that’s how it should be spelled. If they type or write it out as “could of”, etc., then yes, in that case they are using poor grammatics. Flame away. I’m strapped in and ready for it. ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2001, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-of-would-of-should-of-banging-head-on-keyboard/67596/18 "2001-06-05T05:35:15Z")
Maybe if we all spoke Esperanto, we wouldn’t have these problems. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2001, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-of-would-of-should-of-banging-head-on-keyboard/67596/19 "2001-06-05T11:20:54Z")
Next on the chopping block: **supposably**. [Joey]“Did they go to the zoo? _Supposably…_”[/Joey] And while I’m ranting: if it’s a **mute point** , then shut up! Thank you for your attention. ---
**Author:** ![ShelliBean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f9ae1b/32.png) [@ShelliBean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShelliBean)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2001, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-of-would-of-should-of-banging-head-on-keyboard/67596/20 "2001-06-05T13:36:33Z")
Ummm…I think that’s a **moot point**. But I could be wrong - it’s happened once before. I’ll second “supposably” though. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-of-would-of-should-of-banging-head-on-keyboard/67596.md?page=2)