incent : a big SOTA

[Paul Johnson]

Paul Johnson
I join in your crusade, with The Chicago Manual Of Style  as my Bible
and Roget as my Buckler.

Jonathan Lighter wrote:

>How many are aware that English contains a verb "to incent," meaning "to provide with and incentive" ?  I sure didn't, at least not until Governor George Pataki (R. -N.Y.) promised a few minutes ago to "incent consumers" to switch to ethanol.
>
>  Making the situation far more dire is that my OED colleagues can prove that "incent" has been in print at least since 1977.  After nearly thirty years, we should not be surprised to learn that even little children, somewhere, are learning to lisp it.  One can only prophesize that these little children will soon be incented to grow the economy.
>
>  Won't you join me in taking the Pledge never to use the discrete phonemic sequence "incent" in speech or writing as long as you live, and beyond if possible ?  And won't you do your best to scourge and discomfit the misguided souls who do use it ?
>
>  JL
>
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