GRUMPY. Harumph.

[stoney321]

Crab-bee this morning. Stayed up too late, fretted over nonsense. Need more coffee. Read in the paper my BIGGEST pet-peeve word misusage. (Awkward much? Hence the grumpy - words are my enemy today!)

Re: MJ molestation case (blech.) "The boy's credibility has really been impacted." Wrong word? IMPACTED. First of all, BAD TASTE in a boy's molestation trial. Because the word means wedged or packed in, so as to block or fill an organ or passage. Or is used to refer to bones or teeth.

Now the lawyer could have said: "The boy's statement will surely have a negative IMPACT on his testimony."

Nit picky, to be sure. But still. I'm hearing that used incorrectly all the time and it drives me nuts. Bleh. Second runner up would be the misuse of POISONOUS/VENOMOUS. You bite it, get sick, POISONOUS. It bites you, you get sick, VENOMOUS.

Okay, I'm going away now. Nothing to see here. Move along...

Comments

[anelith.livejournal.com]

This is the sort of thing that always gets a mention in the Boston Globe's Word column, which runs (I believe) weekly on Sundays. I love to read it because he'll take letters from readers complaining about misuses such as the awful example you quote. I always learn a little something, or at least I'll be reminded of a distinction such as poisonous/venomous (all hail Lemony Snicket, who did make that one permanently clear for me!).

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

Oh, another one is "quality." That's a quality job. Well, you have to assign something to the word "quality" ding-song. Good or bad? high or low?

Man, I have needs. Am done being pissy, BTW. And don't be afraid to ask me to alter your contra icon, should you wish!

[likeadeuce.livejournal.com]

grumpy moods suck, sorry. am sending you some Connor icons for cheer. at my law school graduation, one of the pieces of advice the speaker gave was "don't use impact as a verb." why say it when you mean "affect"? Grrr. Though my personal pet peeve is number vs. amount.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

Impact means one thing rammed into something else. Mr. Stoney hears wrds like "impactful" at business meetings and usually calls me so I can listen in. GAH!! "Impactful."

That pound block of cheese is "impactful."