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Why "must of" is a common mistake you must avoid
Reviewed and edited by 
Lloyd Cooper 05/10/2024, 01:39
Lloyd Cooper 05/10/2024, 01:39English.me team member
What kind of error is it?
Grammatical error - misuse of a homophonic phrase
Why do people make this mistake?
People make this error because "must of" is a phonetic misinterpretation of the contraction "must've," which stands for "must have." In spoken English, "must've" sounds similar to "must of," leading to confusion in writing.
What is correct?
The correct phrase is "must have" or its contraction "must've," which is used to express a logical deduction about a past event.
Examples of correct usage
- You must have seen that movie before.
- She must've forgotten about the meeting.
- They must have realized their mistake by now.
- He must've been very tired after the long journey.
Grammar
