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 "some where" is not quite right: a grammar guide

Why "some where" is not quite right: a grammar guide

People may mistakenly think "somewhere" is two separate words because ... Learn more →

The sneaky misstep: why "had mislead" leads us astray

The sneaky misstep: why "had mislead" leads us astray

People might make this error because "lead" and "read" in ... Learn more →

Why "wet my appetite" doesn't hold water

Why "wet my appetite" doesn't hold water

People often confuse "wet" with "whet" due to their similar ... Learn more →

Exploring the common misstep behind "way side"

Exploring the common misstep behind "way side"

People may confuse "way side" with "wayside", possibly thinking of ... Learn more →