en English es español fr française it italiano de deutsche ja 日本語 pl polski cs česky sv svenska tr Türkçe nl Nederlands

The misheard past: unraveling the "might of" confusion

Reviewed and edited by Lloyd Cooper 30/09/2024, 22:40
English.me team member

What kind of error is it?

Might of or might have. What's correct?

Grammar error, specifically a homophonic or misinterpretation error.

Why do people make this mistake?

People often make this error because "might of" is pronounced similarly to the contraction "might've" (short for "might have"), leading to confusion in writing.

What is correct?

The correct expression is "might have," which is used to indicate possibility or potentiality in the past or hypothetical situations.

Examples of correct usage

  • She might have gone to the store.
  • They might have known the answer.
  • I might have forgotten to lock the door.

Recommended posts in Grammar

Why "and etc." is a double trouble mistake

Why "and etc." is a double trouble mistake

People often use "and etc." thinking it emphasizes the list's ... Learn more →

Why "enviroment" needs an 'n'tervention

Why "enviroment" needs an 'n'tervention

People often misspell "environment" as "enviroment" because the second "n" ... Learn more →

Why "expresso" isn't a legit brew

Why "expresso" isn't a legit brew

The error likely arises from the influence of the English ... Learn more →

Exposing the error: "bare witness" vs. 'bear witness'

Exposing the error: "bare witness" vs. 'bear witness'

People often confuse "bare" with "bear" because they are homophones—words ... Learn more →