Note to science (or speculative) fiction writers

[edg]

You almost certainly do not want the phrase inertial dampener. An inertial dampener makes inertia damp; I suppose this could be your intent, but I suspect that it is not.

The phrase you want is inertial damper. To damp is to hold down, to suppress; an inertial damper suppresses inertia, so that your characters don't turn into chunky salsa when they turn on the hyperdrive.

Just FYI.

Apparently there are some dictionaries which disagree with me. Very well; I concede the point.

Comments

[cpip.livejournal.com]

Mmmmm. Chunky Salsa!

[ginny-t.livejournal.com]

Hee hee. Douglas Adams or Grant Naylor could've had fun with the dampener. :-D

[drydem.livejournal.com]

see, the problem is, dry inertia chafes. I personally prefer the inertial lubricator though.

[icedrake.livejournal.com]

Dampen (http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=dampener):
1. To make damp
2. To deaden, restrain or depress [...]
3. To soundproof

[edg.livejournal.com]

From American Heritage, I note, whose editors have the unfortunate belief that if a mistake happens often enough, it must be right.

But, yes, you're right; some dictionaries do define it that way.

[icedrake.livejournal.com]

Merriam-Webster (http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=dampen&x=0&y=0).
Compact Oxford (http://www.askoxford.com/concise_oed/dampen?view=uk).
Wordnet (http://poets.notredame.ac.jp/cgi-bin/wn?cmd=wn&word=dampen).

[edg.livejournal.com]

Hm. I am surprised to find out that these dictionaries record that usage.

[icedrake.livejournal.com]

I'll bet you hold to the proscriptive grammar view, as opposed to the descriptive one.

[ceramufary.livejournal.com]

I think you're right, and that's it "to damp" vs. "to dampen". But, I can't argue with the great minds of the Dictionary Writers, who nail down reality as they go to and fro saying this is the name of this, and that is the name of that. Hail their mighty calcifying power.