Writing Tip 7: Would of, Could of, Should of
While we’re often sloppy in speech, remember that the correct form of these phrases is “would have,” “could have,” and “should have.” Non-standard usage in conversation is fine; in writing, it just makes you look silly.
Example 1: All I should of eaten is one slice of pumpkin pie. (incorrect)
Example 2: If I stopped at one slice, my pants would have still fit. (correct)
Happy belated Thanksgiving from the K. S. Writing team!