Comments on: Words that should be banned: impact

By: goodcopybadcopy » Blog Archive » Harvard: where managers learn to speak like that

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 19:44:20 +0000

[...] Impact (verb) – as you will know by now, most of the time this word is used by people who are too lazy to learn the difference between “affect” and “effect”. [...]

By: Clare Lynch

Clare Lynch — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 16:58:04 +0000

Thanks, Chris. A very nice list, and I agree with them all!

By: chris

chris — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 16:29:42 +0000

I got this link from a friend at work today. ‘impact’ didn’t make it on this list. There are some heinous words and phrases in there though.

http://blogs.harvardbusiness.org/silverman/2009/02/10-business-words-to-ban.html?cm_sp=most_read-_-MAR_2009-_-10-business-words-to-ban

By: shannon

shannon — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 19:29:08 +0000

Know what word I hate? Impactful. It’s for people who aren’t satisfied with “impact” as a so-so noun and really bad verb.

Impactfully yours,
Shannon

By: Clare Lynch

Clare Lynch — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 16:52:08 +0000

Yes, thanks for pointing out that distinction. Perhaps I need to do a follow-up post for advanced students!

By: Ma Seungtaek

Ma Seungtaek — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 21:23:54 +0000

Interesting post. I have to admit I never batted an eyelid at the word “impact”. But now that I’ve read your post, if ever I have an urge to “impact on” something, I’ll try to “affect” it instead.

“Remember, Affect is a Verb and Effect is a Noun”…

… Except when “effect” means to cause something or carry out an action.
E.g. “The drug effected an increase in serum macrophage levels”
versus “The drug affected serum macrophage levels.

By: Clare Lynch

Clare Lynch — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 10:35:32 +0000

Thanks, Jesse. Yes, it’s a very easy habit to fall into, isn’t it? That’s why I felt a need to blog about it – as a reminder to myself as much as anyone!

By: Jesse Hines

Jesse Hines — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 02:19:24 +0000

Clare,

Good post.

I’m sure I’ve misapplied the word “impact” before, probably often. It’s true, though; “affect” and “effect” make more sense in most cases.

Your third sentence offers a good way to remember whether or not to use “impact”: only if you’re describing “one object coming forcibly into contact with another.”

By: Clare Lynch

Clare Lynch — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 15:25:19 +0000

Except, Dave, I fear that will only prompt them to explore different ways to annoy us writers.

See recent Daily Mash article: http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/international/100-nations-agree-to-kill-people-differently-200812041439/

By: Dave

Dave — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 15:17:45 +0000

“consonant clusters” interesting. Maybe we can get the UN to sign up to a consonant cluster non-proliferation treaty.