Many traditionalists dislike the use of the verb impact on in figurative contexts – Higher interest rates have impacted on consumer spending – preferring the use of such verbs as affect or influence instead. Impact is pronounced differently depending on whether it is used as a verb or a noun. The stress in impact the noun (braced themselves for the impact) is on the first syllable im- (see impact¹). The stress in verbal use (How will this impact on our plans for expansion?) is on the second syllable