Since its initial construction, the word IMPACT has been a verb (Latin, “to drive in”). It became a noun, as in “the essay landed on the desk with a resounding impact,” a few hundred years ago. It means both forcible contact and to come into forcible contact with something. Impact started to be used as a verb in business jargon, against which most of the English-speaking world reacted with aversion. Having to read about how one’s latest advertising campaign can “impact your bottom line” is irritating, and makes ME want to impact someone’s bottom line. Business jargon aside, impact really IS both a noun and a verb, but you don’t have to like it. I don’t, so I use “affect” instead.
Posted on: Sat, 04 Oct 2014 10:39:12 +0000
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