http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/TDelaney/6890 Many people are confused by the usage of "impact" as a verb vs. a noun. But it seems that about 80 percent of people agree that impact should not be used as a verb, according to the book, "100 words almost everyone confuses & misuses" compiled by the editors of American Heritage Dictionaries. However, that same reference book says that "impact" was used as a verb as far back as 1601 to mean "to fix or pack in." Needless to say, many books bypass this word because of the controversy. One such book is "The Most Common Mistakes in English Usage," by Thomas Elliott Berry. Whether "impact" and its use as a verb is common is opinion. I would say it's pretty darn common. The "Associated Press Broadcast News Handbook," a reference that broadcasters everywhere use, simply states under the entry for impact, "Do not use as a verb." And Paul Brians' popular "Common Errors in English Usage" takes the middle road. Brians recognizes that many people use "impact" as a verb and many more use it as a "noun." He suggests "...you risk offending more people by using impact as a verb than you will by substituting more traditional words like "affect," or "influence." OK. There you have it. I recommend not to use "impact" as a verb. Maybe one day, those who do use the word as a verb will be overwhelming in number, and they will rewrite the rules. You know they are rewriting rules for English usage every day. The verb usage group can impact "impact" as a noun and the English language will be impacted. Get it? Got it! Good. Many people are confused by the usage of "impact" as a verb vs. a noun. But it seems that about 80 percent of people agree that impact should not be used as a verb, according to the book, "100 words almost everyone confuses & misuses" compiled by the editors of American Heritage Dictionaries. However, that same reference book says that "impact" was used as a verb as far back as 1601 to mean "to fix or pack in." Needless to say, many books bypass this word because of the controversy. One such book is "The Most Common Mistakes in English Usage," by Thomas Elliott Berry. Whether "impact" and its use as a verb is common is opinion. I would say it's pretty darn common. The "Associated Press Broadcast News Handbook," a reference that broadcasters everywhere use, simply states under the entry for impact, "Do not use as a verb." And Paul Brians' popular "Common Errors in English Usage" takes the middle road. Brians recognizes that many people use "impact" as a verb and many more use it as a "noun." He suggests "...you risk offending more people by using impact as a verb than you will by substituting more traditional words like "affect," or "influence." OK. There you have it. I recommend not to use "impact" as a verb. Maybe one day, those who do use the word as a verb will be overwhelming in number, and they will rewrite the rules. You know they are rewriting rules for English usage every day. The verb usage group can impact "impact" as a noun and the English language will be impacted. Get it? Got it! Good. en-us THE PROPER USE OF ANY NOUN OR VERB. HASN'T SEEMED TO BE A GREAT INFLUANCE IN MY LIFE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. THE PROPER USE OF WORDS IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE IN GENERAL COULD HAVE A GREAT IMPACT IN OUR LIVES PRIMARERILY THROUGH MISTATEMENT RATHER THAN PROPER USE. BUT I'M DOING GOOD JUST IN BEING ABLE TO COMMUNICATE AT ALL AS BAD AS MY SPELLING AND GENERAL PROPER ENGLISH IS. MY PROPER TEXAS / SOTHERN LINGO IS BARELY GETTING ME BY. SO IF I CAN JUST SPELL A WORD HALF RITE I'M HAPPY. JUST TO GET MY POINT ACROSS IS OK WITH ME. http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/TDelaney/6890/#c_41468 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/TDelaney/6890/#c_41468 THE PROPER USE OF ANY NOUN OR VERB. HASN'T SEEMED TO BE A GREAT INFLUANCE IN MY LIFE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. THE PROPER USE OF WORDS IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE IN GENERAL COULD HAVE A GREAT IMPACT IN OUR LIVES PRIMARERILY THROUGH MISTATEMENT RATHER THAN PROPER USE. BUT I'M DOING GOOD JUST IN BEING ABLE TO COMMUNICATE AT ALL AS BAD AS MY SPELLING AND GENERAL PROPER ENGLISH IS. MY PROPER TEXAS / SOTHERN LINGO IS BARELY GETTING ME BY. SO IF I CAN JUST SPELL A WORD HALF RITE I'M HAPPY. JUST TO GET MY POINT ACROSS IS OK WITH ME. My rule of thumb is that impacted should never be used unless it's in a sentence with wisdom teeth. I've been railing against the use of impact as a transitive verb for as long as I've been subjected to inservice. To make matters worse, I've heard an administrator use the word impaction. I cringe to repeat it. And you may as well forget about careless writers understanding the difference between affect and effect. It's been my observation those who use impact as a verb are the same ones who can't manage homonyms. Or apostrophe marks, for that matter.   http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/TDelaney/6890/#c_41501 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/TDelaney/6890/#c_41501 My rule of thumb is that impacted should never be used unless it's in a sentence with wisdom teeth. I've been railing against the use of impact as a transitive verb for as long as I've been subjected to inservice. To make matters worse, I've heard an administrator use the word impaction. I cringe to repeat it. And you may as well forget about careless writers understanding the difference between affect and effect. It's been my observation those who use impact as a verb are the same ones who can't manage homonyms. Or apostrophe marks, for that matter.   Hi Riverboat -- I concur. If only those who don't practice good grammar, spelling and usage would realize the opportunities they are missing by continuing to err. It equates to better jobs, which means a better lifestyle, a better car, a better diet, better health and so on. I urge everyone to improve and help themselves by doing so.-- td http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/TDelaney/6890/#c_41507 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/TDelaney/6890/#c_41507 Hi Riverboat -- I concur. If only those who don't practice good grammar, spelling and usage would realize the opportunities they are missing by continuing to err. It equates to better jobs, which means a better lifestyle, a better car, a better diet, better health and so on. I urge everyone to improve and help themselves by doing so.-- td TDelaney - our very own William Safire! Keep spreading the message about proper grammar. I believe that many people probably know better, but either don't care or don't take the time to write properly. I fear it is becoming a lost art. Kimi, I think that the way  person communicates, both verbal and written, speaks to the kind of person they are. One need not be a master speller to be taken seriously, but it helps. I do believe it is a matter of pride. And Riverboat, I had to laugh about that administrator using "impaction". I can tell you that I am in the medical field, and the only time I hear the word impaction is right after "fecal". So it's not one of those words I think could ever be used alone in a different context! You didn't mention what field that administrator was in, but I can't imagine any proper usage of that word in his line of work. http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/TDelaney/6890/#c_41554 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/TDelaney/6890/#c_41554 TDelaney - our very own William Safire! Keep spreading the message about proper grammar. I believe that many people probably know better, but either don't care or don't take the time to write properly. I fear it is becoming a lost art. Kimi, I think that the way  person communicates, both verbal and written, speaks to the kind of person they are. One need not be a master speller to be taken seriously, but it helps. I do believe it is a matter of pride. And Riverboat, I had to laugh about that administrator using "impaction". I can tell you that I am in the medical field, and the only time I hear the word impaction is right after "fecal". So it's not one of those words I think could ever be used alone in a different context! You didn't mention what field that administrator was in, but I can't imagine any proper usage of that word in his line of work. Sugar Magnolia, I had to laugh out loud at your comment about impaction. Now I have the perfect reference in mind when I hear that word again during inservice. Tim Delaney - the local William Safire. I'd be MIGHTY proud to wear that label, sir. http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/TDelaney/6890/#c_41567 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/TDelaney/6890/#c_41567 Sugar Magnolia, I had to laugh out loud at your comment about impaction. Now I have the perfect reference in mind when I hear that word again during inservice. Tim Delaney - the local William Safire. I'd be MIGHTY proud to wear that label, sir. Riverboat - just think, you'll be wearing a grin at the next inservice (providing that  word is used), and nobody will know why. It can be your own little secret!   :) http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/TDelaney/6890/#c_41576 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/TDelaney/6890/#c_41576 Riverboat - just think, you'll be wearing a grin at the next inservice (providing that  word is used), and nobody will know why. It can be your own little secret!   :) Hi Sugar Magnolia -- Thanks for the comments. Yes, good grammar, spelling and usage can equate to credibility in what you say. People take you serious when you are correct. By the way, thanks for the humor. While I am serious about English, I do like to make fun  of it, as well. --td http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/TDelaney/6890/#c_41589 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/TDelaney/6890/#c_41589 Hi Sugar Magnolia -- Thanks for the comments. Yes, good grammar, spelling and usage can equate to credibility in what you say. People take you serious when you are correct. By the way, thanks for the humor. While I am serious about English, I do like to make fun  of it, as well. --td I AGREE IN THE PROPER USE OF WORDS REFLECTING THE TYPE OF PERSON YOU ARE AND AT TIMES COULD MAKE A BIG DIFFERANCE IN CAREER, STATUS ETC. AND CAN AS IN USEING A WORD INCORRECTLY OR JUST WRONG OR IN USEING RUNON SENTENCES (SUCH AS MYSELF)IS BAD FORM ETC. AND I AM AWARE THE NEW ENGLISH LANGUAGE IS AT TIMES BARELY RECOGNIZEABLE AS ENGLISH. I CERTAINLY AS WELL CAN'T HURT TO PUT FORTH A LITTLE EFFORT SOMETIMES...BUT; IF YOUR LOOKING TO HARD AT TYPE O'S , PROPER USEAGE, ANDGOOD FORM AND NOT AT THE SPEAKERS HEART THAN YOU COULD BE MISSING THE POINT OF LANGUAGE TO BEGIN WITH. COMMUNICATION. AND IF YOU CAN REACH SOMEONE OR HEAR WHAT THEY ARE SAYING MORE EFFECTIVELY BY SPEAKING THEIR LINGO THEN SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO THROW OUT THE THEE'S AND THOU'S AND JUST SAY IT WHEATHER IT'S PROPER ENGLISH OR NOT. LOOK AT SAMUAL CLEMMONS / MARK TWAIN; HE WROTE IN A FORM TO REFLECT THE PERSONALITY OF THE PERSON AND THE DAY. IN NOT USEING PROPER ENGLISH HE WAS MORE EFFECTIVE IN CREATING A PICTURE IN YOUR MIND OF THOSE PEOPLE. IF HE WROTE  PORTRYING THESE PEOPLE SPEAKING PERFECT GRAMMER IT WOULD HAVE TAKEN THE HEART OF THE STORY OUT . BUT I DO KNOW WHAT YOUR SAYING. AND IS FUNNY WHEN A WORD IS USED SUCH AS IMPACT OR IMPACTION INSTEAD COULD BE IMBARASING AS WELL. I HAVE A FUNNY STORY ON THIS IN THE SPANISH LANGUAGE. MY DAD IN TRYING TRYING TO SAY GOD BLESS YOU VIA BON DIOS? HE WITH SPANISH NOT BEING HIS FIRST LANGUAGE SAID BEDEHO TO THE PERSON INSTEAD BY ACCIDENT. THE PERSON LOOKED VERY PUZZELED AND LAUGHED SINCE FROM WHAT I WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT GOD BLESS YOU BUT RATHER SOMETHING LIKE THE WORD ASS. http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/TDelaney/6890/#c_41596 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/TDelaney/6890/#c_41596 I AGREE IN THE PROPER USE OF WORDS REFLECTING THE TYPE OF PERSON YOU ARE AND AT TIMES COULD MAKE A BIG DIFFERANCE IN CAREER, STATUS ETC. AND CAN AS IN USEING A WORD INCORRECTLY OR JUST WRONG OR IN USEING RUNON SENTENCES (SUCH AS MYSELF)IS BAD FORM ETC. AND I AM AWARE THE NEW ENGLISH LANGUAGE IS AT TIMES BARELY RECOGNIZEABLE AS ENGLISH. I CERTAINLY AS WELL CAN'T HURT TO PUT FORTH A LITTLE EFFORT SOMETIMES...BUT; IF YOUR LOOKING TO HARD AT TYPE O'S , PROPER USEAGE, ANDGOOD FORM AND NOT AT THE SPEAKERS HEART THAN YOU COULD BE MISSING THE POINT OF LANGUAGE TO BEGIN WITH. COMMUNICATION. AND IF YOU CAN REACH SOMEONE OR HEAR WHAT THEY ARE SAYING MORE EFFECTIVELY BY SPEAKING THEIR LINGO THEN SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO THROW OUT THE THEE'S AND THOU'S AND JUST SAY IT WHEATHER IT'S PROPER ENGLISH OR NOT. LOOK AT SAMUAL CLEMMONS / MARK TWAIN; HE WROTE IN A FORM TO REFLECT THE PERSONALITY OF THE PERSON AND THE DAY. IN NOT USEING PROPER ENGLISH HE WAS MORE EFFECTIVE IN CREATING A PICTURE IN YOUR MIND OF THOSE PEOPLE. IF HE WROTE  PORTRYING THESE PEOPLE SPEAKING PERFECT GRAMMER IT WOULD HAVE TAKEN THE HEART OF THE STORY OUT . BUT I DO KNOW WHAT YOUR SAYING. AND IS FUNNY WHEN A WORD IS USED SUCH AS IMPACT OR IMPACTION INSTEAD COULD BE IMBARASING AS WELL. I HAVE A FUNNY STORY ON THIS IN THE SPANISH LANGUAGE. MY DAD IN TRYING TRYING TO SAY GOD BLESS YOU VIA BON DIOS? HE WITH SPANISH NOT BEING HIS FIRST LANGUAGE SAID BEDEHO TO THE PERSON INSTEAD BY ACCIDENT. THE PERSON LOOKED VERY PUZZELED AND LAUGHED SINCE FROM WHAT I WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT GOD BLESS YOU BUT RATHER SOMETHING LIKE THE WORD ASS. Speaking of homonyms, I had just read an alarming news article in today's Advocate (Woman finds box full of boom) this evening. The article stated that "There's no bomb squad in Victoria, so experts from the Corpus Christi police department diffused the bomb." My reaction upon reading this was "Migod, it's worse than I thought! Bomb materials are spread all over the town, thanks to law enforcement officials from Corpus Christi!" Fortunately, my wife defused my anxiety, so I wasn't impacted by the news. http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/TDelaney/6890/#c_41876 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/TDelaney/6890/#c_41876 Speaking of homonyms, I had just read an alarming news article in today's Advocate (Woman finds box full of boom) this evening. The article stated that "There's no bomb squad in Victoria, so experts from the Corpus Christi police department diffused the bomb." My reaction upon reading this was "Migod, it's worse than I thought! Bomb materials are spread all over the town, thanks to law enforcement officials from Corpus Christi!" Fortunately, my wife defused my anxiety, so I wasn't impacted by the news. Riverboat -- Ahhgh. You are hurting my ears :) -- td http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/TDelaney/6890/#c_41887 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/TDelaney/6890/#c_41887 Riverboat -- Ahhgh. You are hurting my ears :) -- td Kimi -- I enjoyed your reference to Samuel Clemens. Good ol' Mark Twain knew the ins and outs of English, so he was very talented in writing various dialects. But you have to know correct English to write incorrect English. I also appreciate your point on being able to get your point across with out knowing correct English and its usage. You seem to have the ability to get a point across, which is a good step toward writing well. I encourage you to improve because you have the ability. -- td http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/TDelaney/6890/#c_41888 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/TDelaney/6890/#c_41888 Kimi -- I enjoyed your reference to Samuel Clemens. Good ol' Mark Twain knew the ins and outs of English, so he was very talented in writing various dialects. But you have to know correct English to write incorrect English. I also appreciate your point on being able to get your point across with out knowing correct English and its usage. You seem to have the ability to get a point across, which is a good step toward writing well. I encourage you to improve because you have the ability. -- td THANKS; I THINK. I'LL TRY. KEEPING ON TRYING. BY THEway,  ISN'T A NOUN A SUBJECT AND A VERB THE ACTION OF THE SUBJECT? IF IT IS THEN HOW COULD IMPACT BE USED AS A NOUN? I  STILL DON'T SEE HOW SPECIFICALLY THE WORD IMPACT IN ITSELF HAS REALY MADE AN IMPACT IN MY LIFE. BUT; WORDS AND ENGLISH...THEY ARE A GOOD THING.AND WORDS AS A SWORD CAN BE A VERY GOOD THING OR MAYBE A VERY BAD THING. http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/TDelaney/6890/#c_41917 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/TDelaney/6890/#c_41917 THANKS; I THINK. I'LL TRY. KEEPING ON TRYING. BY THEway,  ISN'T A NOUN A SUBJECT AND A VERB THE ACTION OF THE SUBJECT? IF IT IS THEN HOW COULD IMPACT BE USED AS A NOUN? I  STILL DON'T SEE HOW SPECIFICALLY THE WORD IMPACT IN ITSELF HAS REALY MADE AN IMPACT IN MY LIFE. BUT; WORDS AND ENGLISH...THEY ARE A GOOD THING.AND WORDS AS A SWORD CAN BE A VERY GOOD THING OR MAYBE A VERY BAD THING. HI again Kimi -- "Impact" is a noun. And the way you used it in your comment is a noun: "...made an impact in my life." An impact would be a noun. If you had said "English impacted my life," or "English impacts my life," that would have been using the word as a verb. Yes, generally, a simple sentence in English is constructed this way: noun (subject) /  verb (action) /  and object (that which receives the action). On another note, words are very powerful, and they can be used for good or evil. I find it very strange that words can make people so angry, make people do things, make people calm down, reinforce people's faith, trick people, and so on. Weapons can never hold a candle to words. If you master words, you truly become some kind of magician.       http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/TDelaney/6890/#c_41934 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/TDelaney/6890/#c_41934 HI again Kimi -- "Impact" is a noun. And the way you used it in your comment is a noun: "...made an impact in my life." An impact would be a noun. If you had said "English impacted my life," or "English impacts my life," that would have been using the word as a verb. Yes, generally, a simple sentence in English is constructed this way: noun (subject) /  verb (action) /  and object (that which receives the action). On another note, words are very powerful, and they can be used for good or evil. I find it very strange that words can make people so angry, make people do things, make people calm down, reinforce people's faith, trick people, and so on. Weapons can never hold a candle to words. If you master words, you truly become some kind of magician.       AH YES NOW I SEE. VERY INTERESTING THIS TRCKY STUFF.IN A WAY; VERY MAGICAL INDEED. http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/TDelaney/6890/#c_41937 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/TDelaney/6890/#c_41937 AH YES NOW I SEE. VERY INTERESTING THIS TRCKY STUFF.IN A WAY; VERY MAGICAL INDEED. Language is important and I appreciate the fact that someone is attempting to guide others to the correct or current usages.  Thanks.  http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/TDelaney/6890/#c_42187 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/TDelaney/6890/#c_42187 Language is important and I appreciate the fact that someone is attempting to guide others to the correct or current usages.  Thanks.  Hi blampley -- Thanks for the encouragement. If you ever have some error in the language you think deserves some explaining, please let me know. I will attempt to explain it. Thanks again.-- td http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/TDelaney/6890/#c_42207 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/TDelaney/6890/#c_42207 Hi blampley -- Thanks for the encouragement. If you ever have some error in the language you think deserves some explaining, please let me know. I will attempt to explain it. Thanks again.-- td