could of have
Not again.
I’ve seen something. Again. It was in a paper turned in by a college student.
“You could of . . .”
Translated, that would be “You could have . . .”
How does this happen?
It’s actually common. Very common. I see it multiple times each a semester. Points are lost.
So what are a few points in a college class? That depends. Does a lower grade motivate someone to intentionally improve their grammar in written and spoken communication? Will anyone else even notice? Am I just too picky? Does it really matter?
I think so. When a student turns in a paper with such an error, their credibility takes a hit. I wonder, is it ignorance, carelessness, apathy, or laziness? None of those are positive words. I wouldn’t want anyone to associate me with one of those words. Especially in the workplace. In the workplace, we try to build a reputation and advance in our careers. We want to be perceived as intelligent and articulate, among other things.
They could have used a grammar checker.
2 Comments »
Leave a comment
Pragmatic Communication is a compilation of thoughts, pet peeves, cool vocabulary words, suggestions and observations about language – written, spoken and everything in between.
Feel free to steal my ideas, add to my collection, ponder my musings, disagree with my rants, jump on my bandwagon, read my favorite books, email me, or just lurk. Whatever works for you.
No you are not being picky. After all, what’s the point of having a language if you’re not going to obey any of its rules?
What you’re observing is often a lack of phonological awareness, or an auditory processing disorder. Dr. Adam Cox wrote in his book “Boys of Few Words” about treating veterans at a VA hospital and noticing that many with interpersonal problems mispronounced common words. There’s interesting connections between the ability to discern word sounds and social perception!
Just some food for thought.