Macmillan Holdings, LLC. Grammar Girl, Grammar Girl's, QDnow, and Quick and Dirty Tips are all trademarks of Macmillan Holdings, LLC. Today's topic is addictive versus addicting. amy grammar I'm so happy to have found you all discussing this topic!!!! I hate addicting!!!!!! it's addicTIVE!!!! addicting sounds wrong and ignorant. sorry. but it just pisses me off! http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/addictive-versus-addicting.aspx?commentid=20576#Comments http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/addictive-versus-addicting.aspx?commentid=20576#Comments Fri, 30 Oct 2009 04:59:22 GMT GRAYWOLF grammar Sounds like a case of dictionaries accepting poor grammar that has become common... http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/addictive-versus-addicting.aspx?commentid=19581#Comments http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/addictive-versus-addicting.aspx?commentid=19581#Comments Mon, 05 Oct 2009 21:01:56 GMT abeck grammar The argument I would make against "addicting" is the same as any other grammatical issue: Why create potential confusion when an apt word already exists? "Addictive" exists as an adjective. Annoyive does not. Therefore, "annoying" is a legitimate way to broadly paint an object as something that annoys. But since "addictive" already exists as an adjective and "addicting" exists as a transitive verb, why create another form of a word if you don't have to? The English language is confounded enough. Simply use "addictive" as the adjective. http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/addictive-versus-addicting.aspx?commentid=18777#Comments http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/addictive-versus-addicting.aspx?commentid=18777#Comments Wed, 02 Sep 2009 19:00:08 GMT SugarPlum grammar And I would still continue to investigate the use of ‘addicting’ as both transitive verb and predicate adjective. I think Charles Carson presented the argument by making a well-expressed distinction in June ’08 that is worth discussion. http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/addictive-versus-addicting.aspx?commentid=18300#Comments http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/addictive-versus-addicting.aspx?commentid=18300#Comments Sat, 08 Aug 2009 21:19:34 GMT SugarPlum grammar Hi GG, I just stumbled upon your site and am enthused to find that there's so many other people interested in grammar! I'm from the Caribbean, and this makes things interesting linguistically, since we’re historically tied to the Brits, but geographically closer to the Americans. In short, we get a little confused trying to decide what version of things to use (e.g. traveling vs. travelling, or flavor vs. flavour), not to mention the fact that we do also have words and expressions unique to our part of the world! Anyway, to focus more on grammar (and less on spelling), whereas a few years ago, I would have said absolutely no to the creation of a made-up word like ‘addicting,’ my current view is that the purists need to let up. I’ve come to decide that since the purpose of language is to express meaning, then we must leave some room for those times when we discover a better way to express something. If language, whether written or spoken is to be really of use to us as we evolve as a human species, then it can’t stay static forever. It should be dynamic based on our needs, otherwise, who’s controlling who? And I’m not saying that we should accept as Standard English any old combination of letters and assign those letters meaning, so as to accommodate linguistic ignorance, especially when suitable words already exist to describe that meaning. How else can you express “to make someone become dependent on something” without using so many words? I completely agree with Andie (who left 2 messages in October 2007) and others who have made a similar point. There should be no problem using ‘to addict’ as a transitive verb that needs to be followed by a direct object. So, Andie sentence: “They put special chemicals in their products which end up addicting the drinkers to their coffee,” would show a completely acceptable conjugation. “Addicting” as an adjective is redundant, as ‘addictive’ already exists to express that meaning, along with a few synonyms (http://thesaurus.reference.com/browse/addictive). P.S. I am more than aware that I said “there's so many other people,” where the contracted ‘is’ suggests that the object is also singular, but where ‘people’ is actually plural. I’ve used it colloquially, which is perfectly acceptable, so get off it. http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/addictive-versus-addicting.aspx?commentid=18299#Comments http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/addictive-versus-addicting.aspx?commentid=18299#Comments Sat, 08 Aug 2009 21:05:08 GMT Anon grammar Addictive is correct. Addicting is incorrect, however you try to justify using it. It always amuses me how Americans can never accept being wrong and try to turn the tables in their favour. http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/addictive-versus-addicting.aspx?commentid=17709#Comments http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/addictive-versus-addicting.aspx?commentid=17709#Comments Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:32:28 GMT craig grammar You guys make me sick! Addicting is a word for some and for some it's not. It's not a matter of being uneducated or educated. It's respect, respect for people and their differences! People like you make the world unpleasant. Say it nicely, if you want to show off as the Mr. or Ms. I'm- educated or I'm-a-know-it-all. Educated people know respect, uneducated people talk defensively and foolishly. Don't offer the correction if it is not called for. If you guys think you know better then shut up! You don't have any right to correct somebody unless you're qualified to do so. Thanks GG, sorry for that... People who don't know the meaning of respect bugs me. By the way girl, I love the podcasts! Keep it up! http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/addictive-versus-addicting.aspx?commentid=17135#Comments http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/addictive-versus-addicting.aspx?commentid=17135#Comments Mon, 25 May 2009 07:46:41 GMT kg grammar I've tried to search for the word "addicting" in the dictionaries I have at home. Some of them don't have it, especially those published long time ago. The newer version of Webster's contain the word as to that of what Grammar Girl has mentioned. I am a nursing student in NYU and my professor in anatomy and pharmacology uses "addicting" over and over again. It seems that they have different meanings, examples: "Codeine is not often prescribed due to its addicting properties." or "Flanax has no potential for abuse and is not addicting." My book in Clinical by Adamson has this "...systematically withdrawn from addicting drugs in patients setting, is done typically under the care of a physician. " I have tried some grammar books but it is difficult to find. All these confuse me now. When I was in grade school I never have heard the word "addicting". Is it specified word for a certain field of study or is it a new word or expression? http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/addictive-versus-addicting.aspx?commentid=17134#Comments http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/addictive-versus-addicting.aspx?commentid=17134#Comments Mon, 25 May 2009 07:15:05 GMT Stickler hunter grammar Why do people insist on this? Kevin, you are right, very well said. Liz (and to the others who said that people who use "addicting" are uneducated), I don't know what kind of basis you have for saying that "addicting" isn't a word. Your American LITERATE friends agree with you? "Addicting" is a word. Read Grammar Girl's article or other grammar books. I suggest advance grammar- basic to intermediate grammar books don't have it- particularly university grammar books. It'll help you understand. Don't bring literacy in this talk, I don't think you know exactly what you are saying. The usage of "addicting" isn't common because its primary usage is found in medical, science and higher literature, probably something you're not familiar with. Just admit that you're wrong and don't make excuses to the point of saying people who use them sound uneducated. It isn't wise and nice. For those who argue, they're your friends. You're not in 'teaching mode' with them. Don't argue, why not try to find out?(Not for the sake of being right but because you want to be sure, sounds better right?) And if you think you really know better and you can't help but give lectures, find somebody who can appreciate you or who you think is willing to be corrected while talking. As I know sticklers are born to annoy other sticklers and not the ones who just want a simple conversation. http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/addictive-versus-addicting.aspx?commentid=17132#Comments http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/addictive-versus-addicting.aspx?commentid=17132#Comments Mon, 25 May 2009 05:53:53 GMT DanSwindles grammar Great article, but as a 'British' English speaker I cringe every time I hear the word addicting. Call me a stick in the mud but for me its addictive, addicting just isn't a word http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/addictive-versus-addicting.aspx?commentid=16358#Comments http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/addictive-versus-addicting.aspx?commentid=16358#Comments Sat, 04 Apr 2009 10:06:21 GMT Fri, 30 Oct 2009 04:59:22 GMT http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/addictive-versus-addicting.aspx feedback@quickanddirtytips.com (Managing Editor) feedback@quickanddirtytips.com (Webmaster) en-us