form and content. Also known as "Deborah is a snob"

[deborah]

So I'm browsing my RSS reader this morning, looking at all my library blogs, when I come across this headline:

Medical Content from Distributed Repositories is Chosen as Most Impactful New Application of Learning Technology Standards for 2006

I admit, I'm having such an experience with the vileness of that sentence that I can't even begin to parse the content. I feel like I should turn this into an insightful post about format and usability and accessibility and how clever content isn't enough if your form doesn't lead people into your content, but really I just want to go off and be sick in a corner about "most impactful".

Oh dear, my dictation software actually has "impactful" in its vocabulary. I weep for our language.

(By the way, I admit I'm a massive hypocrite. I have no problem with all kinds of neologisms: verbing; Buffyisms; Internet vocabulary. But "most impactful" is right up there with "coopetition". I just can't cope.)

Comments

[cavlec.livejournal.com]

May I just say, "Repositories! W00t!"

[deborah]

I know, I know, distributed repositories! Excellent!

But "most impactful"? Don't you feel dirty?

[cavlec.livejournal.com]

Nah, I didn't write it.

[bookishfellow.livejournal.com]

So let's come up with a better word. Significant? Influential? I'm resisting the urge to recast the sentence entirely here...it's hard.

[colorwheel.livejournal.com]

how do you feel about spaving (http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=spaving)? i saw it yesterday for the first time and was instantly annoyed.

otoh, i make up words all the time and plan to do so forever.