Incent

The word incent represents an appalling abuse of the English language. ❋ Unknown (2006)

My brother, who teaches high school in a Chicago suburb, recently told me that his school board is now throwing around the word "incent," as in "we want to incent our students to optimize their educational outcomes." ❋ Unknown (2008)

Now that people have had a few (small) doses of Arnespeak (like "incent" as a verb), it's time to get ready for the full foulness of the programs. ❋ Jim Horn (2009)

I can "incent" my students to know enough to pass just about any test, but mastery requires time, effort, and love. ❋ Doyle (2009)

I share your disdain for stupid diction, and "incent" is certainly among the stupider. ❋ Unknown (2006)

Sorry, but "incent" is a useful word, which is why it's not going away any time soon. ❋ Unknown (2006)

Richard: Thanks for pointing me to her; I just read her eminently sensible column on the verb "incent" and I think I'll add her to the sidebar. ❋ Unknown (2005)

First, in this hyperpartisan age, I extend my hand across the aisle to Brett Bellmore (whose politics seem to be different than mine) to form a bi-partisan movement to denounce the use of "incent" and even "incentivize," and to encourage the use of "encourage" and similar real and less ugly words. ❋ Unknown (2010)

: However, I should point out that the word "incent" is back-formed from, "incentivize," isn't recognized by VC's built-in spell-checker either. ❋ Unknown (2010)

No kidding....no college progrma to keep in shape, no combines to keep them in shape....these kids could end up w/o anyone to "incent" them to stay in shap but themselves, and we've all seen atheletes fail under that structure. ❋ Unknown (2010)

Ever since we first heard about the FDA's plan to buy gift cards to "incent" hard working employees to keep them, well, working hard, we wanted to know more. ❋ Unknown (2010)

Since we can no longer afford to give every kid the individual attention that might have helped (him/her/still-deciding) improve or simply learn to live with faults that truly can't be corrected by medicine or better parenting, we have chosen to "incent" a better sense of self-worth with "cheap plastic trophies", bribes to get better grades or rewards for what should be normal behavior.

Listening to the conversation, I thought I'd comment on previously noted uses of the pseudoword "incent" or other grammatical errors, but I find myself fuming about the implication that as we baby-boomers retire, you will somehow be better able to remake teaching once we get out of your way … let's hope there's at least one baby-boomer left in each building to correct their grammar. ❋ Unknown (2009)

I'm inclined to nod my head and agree with her without too much digging or research because the answer feels right, but keep in mind I say "incent". ❋ Unknown (2008)

Business folks sometimes use "incent" to mean "create an incentive," but it's not standard English. ❋ Unknown (2008)

I prefer "incent" but that's not really a word either; it just sounds less made-up. ❋ Unknown (2008)

- He signed a JOBS bill into law which will incent businesses to hire more new workers ❋ Unknown (2010)

"We gotta incent those people to get off [welfare] by [cuttin'] off their child health benefit [thingies]." ❋ Starker Kull (2004)

Jake was [promised] free entry into the bar if he [mowed the lawn] for his [neighbor]. ❋ Ryan Thompson (2004)

[I didn't do it], I'm [incent]! ❋ WTDFXSYS (2018)

"[We need] to incentize them to only buy the number of [parking] places they need." "Why would they buy parking places they don't need?" "[That's why] we incentize them!" ❋ Theghostlight (2008)

Brett suffered from [the Napoleon] Complex and was bitter. His friend, Dave, had [a Napoleon] [Incentive] and decided to become more confident and funny to compensate for his height. ❋ SithLordTrevor (2021)

"Why [the hell] did you [just do] that?" "It's called poker incentive" "Do you mean [intuition]?" "What are you, female?" ❋ G (2004)

Bob, Ted, Fred and Jimmy are at a bar: Bob: "So my sister and mother are coming to visit next week" Ted: "[Beverage Incentive]!" Bob: "..." A week later, after Jimmy successfully slays both: Ted: "Jimmy, here's your [two six] packs. I'm going to put down another [beverage incentive]. If you finish all 12 beers in 20 minutes, I'll get you another [six pack]" ❋ JR Page (2010)

[Chuck] was planning on [firing] Sally until she [unzipped] his pants and gave him an under-the-desk incentive. She not only kept her job, she also got a raise. ❋ Chase Smith (2007)

Hey, I just gave an [Alternative] [Energy] Incentives-- [good thing] it wasn't OTEC. ❋ The Resolution (2008)

An example of Alternative Energy Incentives is lifting the [tariff] on [Brazilian] sugarcane-based [ethanol]. ❋ The Framers (2008)