Originally Posted by Bride of a Bull

Hmmm...interesting thread...and any other time I probably would HAVE (NOT "of") been a frequent poster. However, attending university as a mature student, part-evenings while working full-time has been whoopin' a serious hurtin' on my hindquarters.

Unsurprisingly, I would tend to agree with the "sloppiness of expression, reflecting commensurate thought" principle, and also with the desire to preserve the vibrant, rich and highly flexible language that is English, of whatever flavour.

I understand that it is a living thing, language, and realise, ironically, that American English is actually the one more rooted in the past - with it's late 18C benchmarking - while British English continues to evolve.

One last thing... it's HAVE, NEVER EVER EVER of, as in...

...you could HAVE done without saying "should of" stchrissie.