Abuse of language

[JohnW2]

I do not maintain there are any rules but surely even informal writing should represent what sounds are made.

As I've explained, in the case of myself what I write is an attempt to represent what sounds I make when speaking the same (abbreviated) word.

That's my point. The 'a' of the 'ha' is not omitted. How ever they pronounce it, people say 'shouldav'.

I'm sure that some 'people' do - but, as I've said, I do not (I say something like "should-erv"). What you are now talking about is really nothing to do with abbreviation, being simply a case of 'dropping an H'. In other words, they are speaking "Should have" as "Should av"

In any event, if some people say "shouldav" (simply dropping the H), that is different from you original complaint about "should of". Are you suggesting that they say "shouldav" but then write it as "should of"?

Kind Regards, John

 

[sparkwright]

The abbreviation of "should have" would be "should'ave".

That's how you would spell it, and pronounce it.

'Should of' is meaningless, very poor English, and should never be said or written.

 

[sparkwright]

Hang about - perhaps it ought to be "should've"...

 

[JohnW2]

The abbreviation of 'should have' would be 'should'ave'.

Only if one intends it to be pronounced "shouldav" (i.e. effectively "should have" with a dropped H). That is not what I, and many others, say, and reflect in my/their writing. As I've said, I say something like "should-erv" and, if I write it, write it as "should've"

'Should of' is meaningless, very poor English, and should never be said or written.

I think that we are probably all agreed about that. However, as I've said, I think the problem is that, when spoken, it can be impossible to distinguish between "should-of" and " ('my') "shouild-erv" - so those that hear the latter might think it is the former, and therefore write it as "should of".

Kind Regards, John

 

[JohnW2]

Hang about - perhaps it ought to be "should've"...

As I've been saying (repeatedly), that's how I've always written it, and how I attempt to reflect it when speaking.

Kind Regards, John

 

[Mottie]

The abbreviation of "should have" would be "should'ave".

That's how you would spell it, and pronounce it.

'Should of' is meaningless, very poor English, and should never be said or written.

What about Should've?

 

[sparkwright]

Yes, definitely "should've".

 

[JohnW2]

Yes, definitely "should've".

That's what I've been saying, repeatedly, since the very start of this discussion (in the other thread), since it is what I've always written and tried to pronounce. Have others not been reading my posts

As I keep saying, I think the issue has arisen because, when spoken, it can be impossible to tell that what is being said is "should've" rather than "should of" - and those who believe their are hearing the latter may therefore start writing it as such.

Kind Regards, John

 

[sparkwright]

I'll have a look, someone not agreeing...?

 

[JohnW2]

P.S. - even my browser's spell-checker recognises " should've " - since that it the top of the list of things it suggests I should change it to when I type, for example, " shouldov"

Kind Regards, John

 

[sparkwright]

It can only be "should've", I would say, anything else would be incorrect IMO.

As for anyone saying "should of", they aren't very bright.

 

[sparkwright]

Similarly, "I have" becomes "I've".

We've all said and written that.

 

[JohnW2]

It can only be "should've", I would say, anything else would be incorrect IMO.

I totally agree - but iut's EFLI you need to tell about that

As for anyone saying "should of", they aren't very bright.

As I've said, if they say it, then it can be very difficult to be sure that they are not saying "should've ". However, if they write it, then I agree with you.

Kind Regards, John

 

[JohnW2]

Similarly, "I have" becomes "I've". We've all said and written that.

Quite - and I'm sure that 'all'includes EWFLIU. However, again, it's him you should be telling vthis since (in the other thread) he wrote:

If it must be written as an abbreviation then it should be written as "should'ave" with or without the 'e'; merely dropping the 'h' as people frequently do - but no other words are written with an apostrophe instead of the dropped 'h'.

Kind Regards, John

 

[sparkwright]

EFLI. It's "should've".

Got it?

Should've. Should've.

A bit hard to tell if people are pronouncing it as "should've", "should of", or even "shouldov".

No way is "shouldov" acceptable in any form.