English 
español 
française 
italiano 
deutsche 
日本語 
polski 
česky 
svenska 
Türkçe 
Nederlands 
Why "must of" is a common mistake you must avoid
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.
Recommended posts in 
Grammar
Despair over "dispair": spelling it out
People often confuse "despair" with "dispair" due to the similar ... Learn more →
Why "greater then" is less than perfect: a grammar insight
People often confuse the spelling of "than" and "then" due ... Learn more →
"Wether" or not: clearing up the confusion
People often confuse "wether" with "whether" because they sound similar ... Learn more →
The cosmic confusion behind "constellation prize"
People make this error because the word "constellation" sounds similar ... Learn more →