# Is type an acceptable verb for word processing? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 21, 2010, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-type-an-acceptable-verb-for-word-processing/547495 "2010-07-21T17:52:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2010, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-type-an-acceptable-verb-for-word-processing/547495/21 "2010-07-22T07:11:26Z")
The only other verb I’ve heard is keyboarding, and this is only used in reference to the class, or otherwise learning how to use a computer keyboard. Otherwise, I use write or type, not that I’ve used a pen or pencil or typewriter in a long time. BTW, the whole meaning of typewriter is something that writes type. Type is just another way of referring to printed words, even when printed on a screen. ETA: > [@usedtobe](#): > > As I still do sometimes, I “edit” compostions. I only call it editing if I’ve already written something before. You write, then you edit/proofread. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2010, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-type-an-acceptable-verb-for-word-processing/547495/22 "2010-07-22T07:18:14Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Isn’t “type” an abbreviation for typewriter? But a type writer is a machine you use to write type (“printed letters” as opposed to longhand); “type” is a root for the word typewriter, an abbreviation for it, and the result of typing on a typewriter or a computer. Whether you’re using a typewriter that’s good only for typing or good for other things as well, the end result is typed text. My boss has a fancy laptop he can write on with a stylus: when he uses the stylus, he is not getting typed letters but ugly scribbles, he is not typing. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2010, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-type-an-acceptable-verb-for-word-processing/547495/23 "2010-07-22T13:26:10Z")
The typewriter used to be the person who operated the typewriting machine. Then it devolved into the machine itself. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2010, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-type-an-acceptable-verb-for-word-processing/547495/24 "2010-07-22T15:21:31Z")
Fun fact: in Italian, the first typewriters were referred to as _cembalo scrivano_, “scribe-harpsichord,” which is the best technical term ever conceived. ---
**Author:** ![descamisado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@descamisado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/descamisado)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2010, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-type-an-acceptable-verb-for-word-processing/547495/25 "2010-07-22T21:04:57Z")
In the word processing field, we used to use the “input” as a noun for a job that is mainly text to be typed for the first for the first time, as opposed to revisions, etc. So maybe “input” could be the noun used in response to the OP since whatever you’re using (the keyboard/stylus/voice recognition), etc. to get to where you want to go, it ends up being _put into_ a document or field or message board forum and, that word doesn’t have to take into account the medium (software, hardware) that comes between inputting and the final result of that. ---
**Author:** ![PsyXe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@PsyXe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PsyXe)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2010, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-type-an-acceptable-verb-for-word-processing/547495/26 "2010-07-22T21:15:03Z")
I don’t see why “type” shouldn’t be used; to my mind it’s even less of a problem than saying you “dial” a number (which isn’t a problem either), since the physical action is exactly the same whether you’re typing on a typewriter or on a computer keyboard (minus a bit of brute force and disentangling little metal bars from each other). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-type-an-acceptable-verb-for-word-processing/547495.md?page=1)