Editor's Corner

Dear Editrix,

When did the word “invite” become a noun? More and more, I hear people using it this way. It’s a verb in my book. Please advise.

Tense in Tennessee

Dear Tense,

I’m with you. The verb is “invite,” and the noun is “invitation.” The same goes with the couple “install” (the verb) and “installation” (the noun). I often hear people saying that they will send an “invite” instead of an invitation. Or perhaps you’ll hear someone asking for an update on the “install” instead of the installation.

Most resources still agree that when you are writing or talking to people in a serious or formal setting, you should use these words as they were intended and skip using “installs” and “invites” as nouns.

But, language changes, and we may be witnesses as these words become more acceptable as different parts of speech. (One of the references I found online said that the shortcut, “invite” as a noun, has been around since the mid-seventeenth century, and he provided two examples from the OED.)

When you hear “invite” used as a noun, you can still disagree. I’ll support you. We’re at work, and that is “formal” enough. Keep fighting the good fight!

Editrix

Kara Church

Technical Editor, Advisory

Symitar Documentation Services