The Webster's New Universal Dictionary says that "The verb IMPACT has
developed the transitive sense 'to have impact of effect on' and the
intransitive sense 'to have an impact or effect.'  Although recent, the new
uses are entirely standard and most likely to occur in formal speech and
writing."

Cultures change, language changes. There is no fixed or "correct" grammar or
vocabulary. We should spend much less time making trivial points like this
and focus instead on real issues.

Damon Tvaryanas
Principal Architectural Historian/Historian
Hunter Research, Inc.
Trenton, N.J. 08608


-----Original Message-----
From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Tim
Thompson
Sent: Tuesday, April 04, 2006 10:53 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: standards

Yargh! I feel like one of those crusty old curmudgeons, at least one of 
which shows up on everyone's dissertation committee, but in the interest of 
students and the impressionable young that might be on this list, I'm 
compelled to point out:

Amy, "impact" is not a verb. I know the native speaker is always right (Dr. 
Hardaman beat it into my brain) but we don't have to be natives of the 
community of illiteracy.

Marcy, the expression is not ". . . fair so well . . ." but " . . . fare so 
well . . .", as in "wayfaring" or traveling.

Academic and bureaucratic gobbledy gook is bad enough, but can't we maintain

some devotion to clear writing?

Tim T.
pedantic curmudgeon