Wood On Words
Can’t get enough words about words with Sunday’s newspaper column? Then this blog’s for you, my word-craving friend. I work the late shift, so don’t look for responses until the next day.

An impact is a special effect

May 21st, 2008 at 09:02am Barry Wood

The verb “impact” means “to force tightly together; pack; wedge,” as in the case of an impacted tooth, or “to hit with force,” as when a large meteorite strikes a planet or moon.

I would like to see “impact” (as a noun, too) retain these distinctions and not become a synonym for “affect” or “effect.” However, it appears to be a losing battle.

There are so many references nowadays to “economic impact” and “environmental impact,” for example, that the word is losing its effectiveness — and becoming “effect.”

Entry Filed under: strict usage

2 Comments Add your own

  • 1. Rob Satan  |  May 21st, 2008 at 3:43 pm

    I think a lot of this has to do with the fact people don’t know which to use when choosing between effect and affect, so they take the easy way out and choose impact.

  • 2. Barry Wood  |  May 23rd, 2008 at 12:47 am

    I agree that confusion over “affect” and “effect” has contributed to the rising popularity of “impact” — a pity on both counts.

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