I don’t enjoy seeing the word ‘impact’ used as a verb when the writer is talking about the effect one thing has on another. I especially don’t like it when talking about injuries… it comes close to punning, \u00a0because so many injuries involve impacts! But I guess this is another battle I am losing. When I went to some sources to find support I discovered the following:<\/p>\n
Usage Note: <\/em><\/strong>The use of\u00a0impact<\/em> as a verb meaning “to have an effect” often has a big impact on readers. In our 2001 survey, 85 percent of the Usage Panel disapproved of the construction\u00a0to impact on,<\/em> as in the sentence\u00a0These policies are impacting on our ability to achieve success;<\/em> fully 80 percent disapproved of the use of\u00a0impact<\/em> as a transitive verb in the sentence\u00a0The court ruling will impact the education of minority students.<\/em> \u00b7\u00a0It is unclear why this usage provokes such a strong response, but it cannot be because of novelty.\u00a0Impact<\/em> has been used as a verb since 1601, when it meant “to fix or pack in,” and its modern, figurative use dates from 1935. It may be that its frequent appearance in the jargon-riddled remarks of politicians, military officials, and financial analysts continues to make people suspicious. Nevertheless, the verbal use of\u00a0impact<\/em> has become so common in the working language of corporations and institutions that many speakers have begun to regard it as standard. It seems likely, then, that the verb will eventually become as unobjectionable as\u00a0contact<\/em> is now, since it will no longer betray any particular pretentiousness on the part of those who use it.<\/p>\n PS.. I am also allergic to ‘usage’, which you will find in the quote above. Ah well!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I don’t enjoy seeing the word ‘impact’ used as a verb when the writer is talking about the effect one thing has on another. I especially don’t like it when talking about injuries… it comes close to punning, \u00a0because so many injuries involve impacts! But I guess this is another battle I am losing. When […]<\/p>\n