# "Impact" as a verb, yea or nay? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 30, 2010, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/impact-as-a-verb-yea-or-nay/545097 "2010-06-30T18:28:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/impact-as-a-verb-yea-or-nay/545097/1 "2010-06-30T18:28:12Z")
A simple question, with only two possible answers, **Skald** or no **Skald**. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/impact-as-a-verb-yea-or-nay/545097/2 "2010-06-30T18:30:17Z")
Of course yea, our language is extremely mutable and if it gets across a concept then why should anyone object? ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/impact-as-a-verb-yea-or-nay/545097/3 "2010-06-30T18:32:05Z")
There are probably better verbs that could be used in its place. Even affect would be better most of the time. But it’s in common use and is understandable as a verb, so meh. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/impact-as-a-verb-yea-or-nay/545097/4 "2010-06-30T18:33:55Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > Of course yea, our language is extremely mutable and if it gets across a concept then why should anyone object? To be a douchebag? Other than that, I got nothin’. ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/impact-as-a-verb-yea-or-nay/545097/5 "2010-06-30T18:45:25Z")
Absolutely, if you’re talking about impacted teeth or the like. It’s not such a great word when it means “to affect,” though. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/impact-as-a-verb-yea-or-nay/545097/6 "2010-06-30T18:50:41Z")
Two bonuses to using the verb “to impact”: a) a subjective one – it’s got more punch than “to affect”. That can and does lead to overuse/exaggeration, however. b) it helps avoid the dread “effect/affect” spelling error 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/impact-as-a-verb-yea-or-nay/545097/7 "2010-06-30T18:54:01Z")
This fight was lost as of 1977, by the way. Red Leader: Negative. It didn’t go in. It just impacted on the surface. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/impact-as-a-verb-yea-or-nay/545097/8 "2010-06-30T18:58:40Z")
Oooh, **Scarlett, Scarlett, Scarlett** , I figured _you’d_ be on the side of the angels on this one … ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/impact-as-a-verb-yea-or-nay/545097/9 "2010-06-30T19:04:35Z")
I don’t see how anyone can answer “no” without disqualifying a bunch of dictionaries, not to mention all the English speakers that use it. I mean, it even has a straight, clear Latin etymology (_impactus_). Where’s the argument? Do you think there’s anything I can say that will impact their decision? ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/impact-as-a-verb-yea-or-nay/545097/10 "2010-06-30T19:35:15Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > Oooh, **Scarlett, Scarlett, Scarlett** , I figured _you’d_ be on the side of the angels on this one … Here’s my take: Technically, it’s supported as a verb from 1601, according to MW11. Nonetheless, its modern use in business-speak sets my teeth on edge, and I toss it as often as I can get away with doing so. Better? ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/impact-as-a-verb-yea-or-nay/545097/11 "2010-06-30T19:40:48Z")
> [@Chessic\_Sense](#): > > I don’t see how anyone can answer “no” without disqualifying a bunch of dictionaries, not to mention all the English speakers that use it. Maybe they think all those dictionaries, and all those English speakers who use it are wrong. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/impact-as-a-verb-yea-or-nay/545097/12 "2010-06-30T19:53:16Z")
> [@Scarlett67](#): > > Here’s my take: Technically, it’s supported as a verb from 1601, according to MW11. Nonetheless, its modern use in business-speak sets my teeth on edge, and I toss it as often as I can get away with doing so. > > Better? That sounds like a stylistic issue, then – a general avoidance of the cliches & jargon of contemporary “business-speak”. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/impact-as-a-verb-yea-or-nay/545097/13 "2010-06-30T19:57:28Z")
> [@Scarlett67](#): > > Here’s my take: Technically, it’s supported as a verb from 1601, according to MW11. Nonetheless, its modern use in business-speak sets my teeth on edge, and I toss it as often as I can get away with doing so. > > Better? Significantly. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/impact-as-a-verb-yea-or-nay/545097/14 "2010-06-30T21:29:31Z")
It’s the way the language is headed, but every time I hear it I think of some cliched middle management buffoon who is taking a proactive approach to the new paradigm. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/impact-as-a-verb-yea-or-nay/545097/15 "2010-06-30T21:40:02Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > That sounds like a stylistic issue, then – a general avoidance of the cliches & jargon of contemporary “business-speak”. Yes, that’s all. I’m not arguing it isn’t a word and I don’t think anybody else is either. But it does annoy the crap out of me because of the jargon factor. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/impact-as-a-verb-yea-or-nay/545097/16 "2010-06-30T21:51:29Z")
My brain is slow today. Can I have an example of how it is used in business-speak? ---
**Author:** ![TimeWinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@TimeWinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimeWinder)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/impact-as-a-verb-yea-or-nay/545097/17 "2010-06-30T23:25:31Z")
> [@Bosstone](#): > > This fight was lost as of 1977, by the way. > > Red Leader: Negative. It didn’t go in. It just impacted on the surface. > > 😛 I’m not a big fan of the business sense, but this doesn’t bother me at all (where we’re talking about something causing a literal impact). But I’ll use even the business sense from time to time: my status reports often have lines about having “impacted the paradigm for greater synergy” – and no one’s ever asked me what I mean. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/impact-as-a-verb-yea-or-nay/545097/18 "2010-06-30T23:27:31Z")
> [@Khadaji](#): > > My brain is slow today. Can I have an example of how it is used in business-speak? “These third quarter results exclude the costs of right-sizing our company, which is expected to impact earnings by $10 to $15 million.” ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/impact-as-a-verb-yea-or-nay/545097/19 "2010-06-30T23:29:18Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > “These third quarter results exclude the costs of right-sizing our company, which is expected to impact earnings by $10 to $15 million.” OK. I’m good with that. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/impact-as-a-verb-yea-or-nay/545097/20 "2010-06-30T23:36:20Z")
According to her orthodontist, my daughter has impacted wisdom teeth. I’m not sure what they were impacting or what the impact of this was. I assume that once I pay a huge sum of money to have them remove they will have been impacted, but no longer have an impact. I hope you’ve found this anecdote impactful (sic). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/impact-as-a-verb-yea-or-nay/545097.md?page=2)