Why “Would of” is Incorrect

The phrase “would of” is a common error that occurs due to the way it sounds in spoken English. However, it is grammatically incorrect because “of” is not a verb or an auxiliary word that can follow “would.” The correct phrase is “would have.”

Breaking It Down:

1. Contraction Confusion
   • In speech, “would have” often gets shortened to “would’ve.”
   • When said quickly, “would’ve” sounds like “would of,” leading people to mistakenly write “of” instead of “have.”

   Example:

   • Spoken: “I would’ve gone to the party.”
   • Misheard and written: “I would of gone to the party.” (Incorrect)
   • Correct: “I would have gone to the party.”

1. Role of “Have”
   • “Have” is part of the verb phrase that forms the perfect conditional tense.
   • Example:
     • Correct: “I would have studied harder if I had known the exam was today.”
     • Incorrect: “I would of studied harder if I had known the exam was today.”

   The word “of” is a preposition, not a verb. It cannot function in place of “have” because it doesn’t contribute to forming the verb tense.

Examples to Compare

• Incorrect: “She would of helped if she knew.”
• Correct: “She would have helped if she knew.”
• Incorrect: “I would of bought that if it were cheaper.”
• Correct: “I would have bought that if it were cheaper.”

Why This Mistake Happens

• Sound Similarity: The contraction “would’ve” is pronounced similarly to “would of,” making it easy to confuse the two.
• Writing Habits: People write as they speak, especially in informal contexts.

Learning Tip to Avoid the Mistake

Remember this simple mnemonic:
“Would’ve is short for would have—not would of.”
If you’re unsure, expand the contraction when writing:

• Ask yourself: Does “would of” make sense if I replace it with “would have”? If not, it’s incorrect.

Practice Time!

Fill in the blanks with “would have” or “would of”:

1. If I had seen the sign, I _______ stopped immediately.
2. She _______ loved to join us, but she was busy.
3. They _______ been disappointed if the event had been canceled.

Answers:

1. would have
2. would have
3. would have