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.
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.