Impact's Impact Impactful?
While waiting for Round Four, I'd like to stir things up with a friendly debate over the use of the word "impact".
Using "impact" as a noun is acceptable, it seems, in all circles:
Her opinion had a strong impact on his decision.
The use of "impact" as a transitive verb, though, is a bone of contention. Some strongly dislike it. Others consider it "MBA-speak" but don't mind it. Others consider it fair and proper (if not inevitable) usage:
Her opinion impacted his decision.
Another usage that raises ire is "impactful". Seeing as it's not even a word, that's understandable.
I'm curious, does the use of "impact" as a transitive verb hurt or please your ears? If you were going to write the Public Radio style guide, would you advise writers and speakers to avoid it or to follow the emerging trend?
delicious
diggSo, my boyfriend says he always mixed up effect (n) and affect (v), and so he avoids the goof by using the word impact instead, in all its forms (except impactful, which would bug me). While lots of grammar short cuts bug me, I don't mind impact. I like Chad's comment: It's like a power cord, chunky.
Good to see familiar names here... Hi!
- ez
Good to see you here, Elizabeth!
I am forever grateful to a fifth grade teacher who cleared up the affect/effect thing for me once and for all. She instructed, "affect" starts with "a", "action" starts with "a". To affect something is always an action, never a result.
the recent comments section had a strong impact on my decision to leave this comment.
of impact (and every other current word) used as a verb makes me nauseated!
Party on!
It's not a noun, but when you want to transfer large media files from an acquisition drive to a large capacity hard drive via fire wire or some such conduit... the term I heard used was...
to "suck off" the data.
How's that grab ya? In the words of Laurie Anderson - 'language is a virus'.
Rich
Yes, to me it sounds like a consultant giving a board meeting pitch. "We must impact the audience's loyalty with every minute of airtime." I always think of impacted teeth.
If you are going to write the Public Radio style guide, please sign me up for a copy. That's a wonderful idea. Nice to see you here, Jennifer.
Hi, Theresa! Good to see you active here, too.
I have the very same dental disaster association with "impacted" wired in my mind. As a matter of fact, that was the only use of "impacted" I could come up with until two or three years ago, when air waves and news sources started filling up with the verb.
Impact: A very small or barely noticeable part of a play... similar to a Dwarf Act or Mini Act, but even more (or should I say less) so.
Other words...
Impalement: When wee folk get sick.
Impart: Tiny paintings
Impasse: Why your jeans fall down.
Impend: (see above) - also what a fairy sits on.
Implement: sad elf
Implode: How much a fairy can carry.
Implore: History of the little people.
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