# Grammar Nazi rant du jour - "should HAVE", not "should of" **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 11, 2003, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-nazi-rant-du-jour-should-have-not-should-of/194442 "2003-08-11T18:18:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2003, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-nazi-rant-du-jour-should-have-not-should-of/194442/1 "2003-08-11T18:18:50Z")
–Attention all rapists of the English language– _Should of_ is an improper construct. “I should of used preview before I posted.” - **WRONG!** “I should have used preview before I posted.” - **Correct.** You are confusing the spoken contraction “should’ve”, with the totally wrong “should of”. Yes, it kind of sounds the same, but it’s wrong nonetheless. Most people’s day-to-day pronunciation of it is lazy, but you still have to spell it correctly when you write it. Don’t make me have to get the belt.:mad: P.S. - Be sure to point out all the errors _I_ made, such as sentence fragments. That would really put me in my place.😉 ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2003, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-nazi-rant-du-jour-should-have-not-should-of/194442/2 "2003-08-11T18:38:24Z")
I hate grammar Nazis, but should of is just so stupid. It isn’t like a grammar mistake where the sentance still sense makes. Should of, could of, would of, all just suck. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2003, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-nazi-rant-du-jour-should-have-not-should-of/194442/3 "2003-08-11T18:58:17Z")
Interestingly, “shoulda” is perfectly acceptable netspeak. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![DarrenS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/977dab/32.png) [@DarrenS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DarrenS)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2003, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-nazi-rant-du-jour-should-have-not-should-of/194442/4 "2003-08-11T20:42:54Z")
At least “shoulda” contains _one_ of the correct vowels from the real construction, “should have”. ---
**Author:** ![Hauky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/0ea827/32.png) [@Hauky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hauky)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-nazi-rant-du-jour-should-have-not-should-of/194442/5 "2003-08-12T01:10:36Z")
_Everything_ is perfectly acceptable netspeak. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![hazel-rah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/73ab20/32.png) [@hazel-rah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hazel-rah)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-nazi-rant-du-jour-should-have-not-should-of/194442/6 "2003-08-12T01:49:28Z")
> [@](#): > > Most people’s day-to-day pronunciation of it is lazy, but you still have to spell it correctly when you write it. Using contractions is lazy? Whatever you say, freako. ---
**Author:** ![BuckleberryFerry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5f9b8f/32.png) [@BuckleberryFerry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BuckleberryFerry)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-nazi-rant-du-jour-should-have-not-should-of/194442/7 "2003-08-12T03:25:45Z")
Finally, my kindred spirit. [Homer]I would like to subscribe to your newsletter.[/Homer] ---
**Author:** ![Jaade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/dfb087/32.png) [@Jaade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaade)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-nazi-rant-du-jour-should-have-not-should-of/194442/8 "2003-08-12T03:26:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by hazel-rah \* > \*\*Using contractions is lazy? Whatever you say, freako. \*\* Should of is not a contraction… ~J ---
**Author:** ![hazel-rah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/73ab20/32.png) [@hazel-rah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hazel-rah)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-nazi-rant-du-jour-should-have-not-should-of/194442/9 "2003-08-12T04:07:40Z")
Read the OP, dipshit. ---
**Author:** ![Jodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-nazi-rant-du-jour-should-have-not-should-of/194442/10 "2003-08-12T05:08:03Z")
> [@](#): > > Using contractions is lazy? Whatever you say, freako. Uh, he said people’s _pronunciation_ is lazy, in that we say “should of” for “should’ve.” Which doesn’t change the fact that in written form it’s “should’ve.” Read the OP, freako. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![LauraLittlePony](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e19adc/32.png) [@LauraLittlePony](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LauraLittlePony)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-nazi-rant-du-jour-should-have-not-should-of/194442/11 "2003-08-12T05:13:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jodi \* > \*\*Which doesn’t change the fact that in written form it’s “should’ve.” > > Read the OP, freako. 😉 \*\* Exactly. That bugs me, too. “Should OF” makes absolutely no sense! If we would use _contractions_ and think about what they _mean_, we’d be fine. ::takes relaxing bath to recover from grammar stress:: ---
**Author:** ![pizzabrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e9c0ed/32.png) [@pizzabrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pizzabrat)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-nazi-rant-du-jour-should-have-not-should-of/194442/12 "2003-08-12T05:18:31Z")
Calling someone a Grammar Nazi for ranting about “should of” is like calling someone a regular Nazi for ranting about something regular. ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-nazi-rant-du-jour-should-have-not-should-of/194442/13 "2003-08-12T05:28:10Z")
“Should of” is wrong, is and it?\* \*Scary thing is I’ve actually _seen_ “is and it” written. ---
**Author:** ![hazel-rah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/73ab20/32.png) [@hazel-rah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hazel-rah)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-nazi-rant-du-jour-should-have-not-should-of/194442/14 "2003-08-12T08:00:12Z")
> [@](#): > > Uh, he said people’s pronunciation is lazy, in that we say “should of” for “should’ve.” Explain to me exactly what the difference is, phonetically, between saying “should’ve” and “should of.” ---
**Author:** ![SparrowHawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac8455/32.png) [@SparrowHawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SparrowHawk)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-nazi-rant-du-jour-should-have-not-should-of/194442/15 "2003-08-12T08:28:44Z")
There isn’t a phonetic difference, which is why thoughtless people spell it wrong. I thought he was saying people’s pronunciation is lazy in that we say “should’ve” instead of “should have.” There’s nothing really wrong with the contraction, especially when spoken, but it should be spelled properly when written. “Should of” is nonsense. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 9:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-nazi-rant-du-jour-should-have-not-should-of/194442/16 "2003-08-12T09:42:55Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Bippy the Beardless_ > **sentance** Tut tut. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 9:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-nazi-rant-du-jour-should-have-not-should-of/194442/17 "2003-08-12T09:56:32Z")
Think about what you are uttering-- that is all. ‘Should have’ is contracted 'should’ve; NOT ‘should of’. No argument— the should of’s are WRONG. ---
**Author:** ![Largo62](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/45deac/32.png) [@Largo62](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Largo62)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 9:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-nazi-rant-du-jour-should-have-not-should-of/194442/18 "2003-08-12T09:59:37Z")
I have nothing to add, as I have taken more than my lumps as a grammar Nazi in the past. I’m not even here. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![hazel-rah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/73ab20/32.png) [@hazel-rah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hazel-rah)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 10:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-nazi-rant-du-jour-should-have-not-should-of/194442/19 "2003-08-12T10:00:49Z")
Make up your mind, guys… should be think about what we are uttering or what we are writing? ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Badger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/848f3c/32.png) [@Dead\_Badger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Badger)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-nazi-rant-du-jour-should-have-not-should-of/194442/20 "2003-08-12T12:32:42Z")
While we’re Nazi-bingeing, may I add a pet peeve? It’s a MOOT point, not MUTE! Gah! I almost _never_ see this used properly. Sorry to hijack but this wasn’t worth a thread on its own. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-nazi-rant-du-jour-should-have-not-should-of/194442.md?page=2)