# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![Baldwin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baldwin/32/7264_2.png) [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-nazi-rant-du-jour-should-have-not-should-of/194442/21 "2003-08-12T13:26:20Z")
While we’re on the subject of homophonic misspellings… the past tense of the verb _lead_ is spelled _led_. There’s a metallic element called _lead_ which is pronounced like _led_, but it’s a different word. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Zagna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@El\_Zagna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Zagna)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-nazi-rant-du-jour-should-have-not-should-of/194442/22 "2003-08-12T13:39:38Z")
I don’t mind the _should of_ vs. _should’ve_ thing as much as I do what usually follows: “We should of _went_ the other way.” “I should of _ate_ less.” I see this all the time by people who never make other grammatical errors - at least none that I catch. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-nazi-rant-du-jour-should-have-not-should-of/194442/23 "2003-08-12T15:11:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by bnorton \* > \*\*I don’t mind the _should of_ vs. _should’ve_ thing as much as I do what usually follows: > > “We should of _went_ the other way.” > “I should of _ate_ less.” > > I see this all the time by people who never make other grammatical errors - at least none that I catch. \*\* This happens when people start thinking the way they’re spelling. As long as someone is _thinking_ “should have”, then the proper form of the verb should be obvious. But once the phrase turns into “should of” in their heads, all connection to proper verb form goes out the window. Oh, and my favorite net-construction is “for all intensive purposes”. Drives me absolutely nutty! ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-nazi-rant-du-jour-should-have-not-should-of/194442/24 "2003-08-12T15:23:17Z")
“Point **in** time,” not “Point and time.” ---
**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 12, 2003, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-nazi-rant-du-jour-should-have-not-should-of/194442/25 "2003-08-12T15:29:48Z")
I do like using error forms in a correct fashion though. ie High powered vibrators are better than dildos for all intensive purposes. 😃 **jjimm** I did say I am against language Nazis. I also claim very little skill in grammer and less in speling. btw I imagine jjimm pronounced as one word with a double j sound, sort of like the sound made pumping new rounds into a shotgun. ---
**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, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-nazi-rant-du-jour-should-have-not-should-of/194442/26 "2003-08-12T15:37:49Z")
It’s pronounced “Juh-juh-i-muh-muh”. More like a small child doing an impression of a machine gun. ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-nazi-rant-du-jour-should-have-not-should-of/194442/27 "2003-08-12T15:46:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by LouisB \* > \*\*“Point **in** time,” not “Point and time.” \*\* On a completely different side note…I used to think it was “a grain assault” instead of “a grain of salt”. I have a co-worker that does the “should of” instead of the “should have”. After 5 years I still am proud I’ve not become the grammar nazi and have corrected her. I guess I figure she knows the “your/you’re” difference and that’s my big sticking point. I didn’t go on a date with a person because they didn’t know that one. ---
**Author:** ![ArtyDooDoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/13edae/32.png) [@ArtyDooDoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArtyDooDoo)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-nazi-rant-du-jour-should-have-not-should-of/194442/28 "2003-08-12T16:30:26Z")
My grammar pet peeve of the moment is “try and” when it should be “try to”. When you say “I’m going to try and catch the 9:00 show”, what you’re really saying is “I’m going to try to catch the 9:00 show and I’m going to catch the 9:00 show”. The correct way is “I’m going to try to catch the 9:00 show”. The other day I was talking and caught myself saying “try and” ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-nazi-rant-du-jour-should-have-not-should-of/194442/29 "2003-08-12T16:38:33Z")
My personal favorite right now is “persay.” Though I have a soft spot in my heart for “case and point.” Julie ---
**Author:** ![SkipMagic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skipmagic/32/20706_2.png) [@SkipMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkipMagic)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-nazi-rant-du-jour-should-have-not-should-of/194442/30 "2003-08-12T18:00:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jjimm \* > \*\*Tut tut. \*\* King king? ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-nazi-rant-du-jour-should-have-not-should-of/194442/31 "2003-08-12T18:16:55Z")
I had a co-worker write an unintelligible memo and then when called on it, apologized for the “confusement” it caused. ---
**Author:** ![Bruce\_Daddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Bruce\_Daddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bruce_Daddy)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-nazi-rant-du-jour-should-have-not-should-of/194442/32 "2003-08-12T18:50:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Skammer \* > \*\*I had a co-worker write an unintelligible memo and then when called on it, apologized for the “confusement” it caused. \*\* She should of used _confusion_, right? ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-nazi-rant-du-jour-should-have-not-should-of/194442/33 "2003-08-12T21:28:56Z")
I can deal with phonetic spelling; the misspellings that really bother me are the ones that are conspicuously _unphonetic_, like “where” for “were” or “weary” for “wary.” Those make me suspect that the author never learned basic phonics in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![racinchikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@racinchikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racinchikki)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-nazi-rant-du-jour-should-have-not-should-of/194442/34 "2003-08-12T22:27:31Z")
I had a friend who used to say, of things that abounded, “It is a bound!” I had to prove to her that “abound” is one word and a verb. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-nazi-rant-du-jour-should-have-not-should-of/194442/35 "2003-08-12T22:30:52Z")
“Drownded” or “You’ll drownd” always bothers me. ---
**Author:** ![Slainte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a698b9/32.png) [@Slainte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slainte)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-nazi-rant-du-jour-should-have-not-should-of/194442/36 "2003-08-12T22:46:44Z")
Allow me to add: “I could care less.” when “I couldn’t care less” is meant. _Could_ you care less? Really? You just don’t want to or what? ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-nazi-rant-du-jour-should-have-not-should-of/194442/37 "2003-08-12T22:51:16Z")
My current peeve: “different than”. There is no “different than” in English. One object cannot contain more “different than” another. However, one object _can_ be “different _from_” another. Faster than, higher than, uglier than…those are valid. But “different than” is not. ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-nazi-rant-du-jour-should-have-not-should-of/194442/38 "2003-08-12T22:56:29Z")
I _pacifically_\* hate one other, more. \*as opposed to ‘atlantically’, of course ---
**Author:** ![biqu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7feea3/32.png) [@biqu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/biqu)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-nazi-rant-du-jour-should-have-not-should-of/194442/39 "2003-08-12T23:10:31Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Slainte_ > Allow me to add: > > “I could care less.” when “I couldn’t care less” is meant. > > Could you care less? Really? You just don’t want to or what? The disputed usage is sarcastic. See [this recent thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=204052) in GQ. > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by wring_ > I pacifically\* hate one other, more. > > \*as opposed to ‘atlantically’, of course You know, [pacific](http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=pacific) originally meant “of a peaceful nature, tranquil.” The ocean was named later. Whether one can peacefully hate something is debatable, but the grammar in that sentence is correct. ---
**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:** [August 12, 2003, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-nazi-rant-du-jour-should-have-not-should-of/194442/40 "2003-08-12T23:13:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Max Torque \* > \*\*My current peeve: “different than”. There is no “different than” in English. One object cannot contain more “different than” another. However, one object _can_ be “different _from_” another. > > Faster than, higher than, uglier than…those are valid. But “different than” is not. \*\* You’re mostly correct. From The Concise English Dictionary: > [@](#): > > **different** : 1. (often followed by _from, to, than_) unlike, distinguishable in nature, form or quality (from another). 2 [etc.] > > **Usage** In sense 1 _different from_ is generally regarded as the most acceptable collocation; _to_ is common in less formal British use; _than_ is established in US use and also found in British use, esp. when followed by a clause, e.g. _I am a different person than I was a year ago_. That suggests you’re fighting a losing battle there, bucko. Me, I’m just happy to find any London teenager who doesn’t say “you was”. ☹ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-nazi-rant-du-jour-should-have-not-should-of/194442.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-nazi-rant-du-jour-should-have-not-should-of/194442.md?page=3)