# Let’s try a new tact on this
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-s-try-a-new-tact-on-this/220434
**Category:** The BBQ Pit
**Created:** [December 22, 2003, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-s-try-a-new-tact-on-this/220434 "2003-12-22T11:04:42Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Waverly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waverly)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2003, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-s-try-a-new-tact-on-this/220434/1 "2003-12-22T11:04:42Z")
This has been making my stomach churn for some time now, and I’m quite convinced it is growing in momentum. The word you want it _ **tack** _, people. This isn’t a simple typographical error. You are using the wrong word because you are parroting back what you thought someone else said without having the first clue what you are saying. No idea whatsoever.
**Tact** : Discretion, delicacy. As in: “use some tact when regurgitating words or phrases.”
**Tack** : Direction, approach. As in: “this isn’t working, let’s try a new tack.”
Now here’s the truly confusing part… “Let’s try a new tactic.” That’s fine too! **Tactic** : Method, approach. It works just as well because the meanings are similar, not because it sounds similar.
OK, I’m done here. Go in peace.
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### Author:  [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2003, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-s-try-a-new-tact-on-this/220434/2 "2003-12-22T11:09:16Z")
I was itching to correct your thread title when I saw it. Good call.
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### Author:  [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2003, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-s-try-a-new-tact-on-this/220434/3 "2003-12-22T11:14:43Z")
Irregardless of this thread, the error would of continued.
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### Author:  [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2003, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-s-try-a-new-tact-on-this/220434/4 "2003-12-22T11:16:42Z")
That was a rather tackless rant, don’t you think?
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### Author:  [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2003, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-s-try-a-new-tact-on-this/220434/5 "2003-12-22T11:35:07Z")
This is something that needs repeated.
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### Author:  [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2003, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-s-try-a-new-tact-on-this/220434/6 "2003-12-22T11:41:04Z")
“I don’t know nuffin’ about no tic-tac-ticals.”\*
Courtesy of the awesomely ignorant and stupid Jade off UK Big Brother last year.
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### Author:  [@Futile\_Gesture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Futile_Gesture)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2003, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-s-try-a-new-tact-on-this/220434/7 "2003-12-22T12:11:37Z")
A new dictate; no tacks when you mean tact. This will make a tactile difference to the tracks made by tracts on the SDMB and prevent tat becoming tacky.
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### Author:  [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2003, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-s-try-a-new-tact-on-this/220434/8 "2003-12-22T12:38:39Z")
I could care less.
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### Author:  [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2003, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-s-try-a-new-tact-on-this/220434/9 "2003-12-22T12:53:18Z")
I shamefacedly admit that I always thought “tact” was appropriate in this particular instance as a shortening of “tactic”. Ah, well - live and learn :).
- Tamerlane
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### Author:  [@Early\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Early_Out)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2003, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-s-try-a-new-tact-on-this/220434/10 "2003-12-22T13:28:10Z")
Clearly, we need to add sailing lessons to the educational curriculum. People would then no longer commit this particular offense against the language.
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### Author:  [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2003, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-s-try-a-new-tact-on-this/220434/11 "2003-12-22T14:03:53Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Futile Gesture \*
> \*\*A new dictate; no tacks when you mean tact. This will make a tactile difference to the tracks made by tracts on the SDMB and prevent tat becoming tacky. \*\*
This is very taxing.
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### Author:  [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2003, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-s-try-a-new-tact-on-this/220434/12 "2003-12-22T14:10:27Z")
Anybody seen my thumb tacks?
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### Author:  [@Early\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Early_Out)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2003, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-s-try-a-new-tact-on-this/220434/13 "2003-12-22T14:24:04Z")
Oh, no! There’s a thumb tax? Isn’t that double jeopardy? I’m certainly opposable to it.
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### Author:  [@Marathon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marathon)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2003, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-s-try-a-new-tact-on-this/220434/14 "2003-12-22T14:29:28Z")
I don’t know. Something here doesn’t quite jive.
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### Author:  [@Futile\_Gesture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Futile_Gesture)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2003, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-s-try-a-new-tact-on-this/220434/15 "2003-12-22T15:09:49Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Early Out \*
> \*\*Oh, no! There’s a thumb tax? Isn’t that double jeopardy? I’m certainly opposable to it. \*\*
No need for concern. Tax rates are only in single digits and rumours that they are going to tick tax toes are unfounded.
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### Author:  [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2003, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-s-try-a-new-tact-on-this/220434/16 "2003-12-22T15:37:13Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Early Out \*
> \*\*Clearly, we need to add sailing lessons to the educational curriculum. People would then no longer commit this particular offense against the language. \*\*
I wholeheartedly agree!
And I’d like to toss in the suggestion that if you don’t know that there’s a difference between _accept_ and _except_, you shouldn’t be allowed to use either word.
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### Author:  [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2003, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-s-try-a-new-tact-on-this/220434/17 "2003-12-22T15:52:20Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Waverly \*
> \*\ ***Tact** : Discretion, delicacy. As in: “use some tact when regurgitating words or phrases.”
>
> **Tack** : Direction, approach. As in: “this isn’t working, let’s try a new tack.”
> \*\*
**Tact** : Tempo in which a conductor moves his baton from beat to beat.
So it **could** be correct usage, if people are thinking in those terms. Dollars-to-donuts they aren’t.
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### Author:  [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2003, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-s-try-a-new-tact-on-this/220434/18 "2003-12-22T18:53:30Z")
While we’re about it, the phrase is “he did it off his own **bat** ,” not “off his own back”. WTF is that supposed to mean?
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### Author:  [@panamajack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panamajack)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2003, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-s-try-a-new-tact-on-this/220434/19 "2003-12-22T19:04:31Z")
I don’t get it. Why does the K stand for Will?
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### Author:  [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2003, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-s-try-a-new-tact-on-this/220434/20 "2003-12-22T19:14:58Z")
He’s not a right wing nutcase! He’s _on a starboard tact!_
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