I can't take it anymore. With the flood (no pun intended) of recent news coverage about Hurricane Irene, the misuse of "impacted" has reached frenzy level. I suppose saying that something is impacted rather than affected by events has more verbal punch, but I still say it is WRONG and using is again and again doesn't make it right.
"Impacted" is an adjective in the English language, meaning tightly packed or wedged in. It shouldn't be the used as the past tense conjugation of the transitive verb, impact. This verb's primary meaning is to strike forcefully or make contact with, however, recent usage has given it an alternate meaning as in to alter, influence, have an effect on. For example, The senator's insistence on cutting Medicare funding will impact the lives of the elderly. Affect or even effect would be better, but impact is correct. The elderly are impacted by deep cuts in Medicare funding. No! If they are, they should consult a physician, despite the loss of funding. They're probably eating too much cheese.
Bottom line, wisdom teeth and bowels are impacted. People, places and events are not.
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