"The inconvenient graying, wrinkling and sagging perhaps could be dealt with by [the Baby Boom] generation. Boomers already have begun to loudly insist that 50-something is so totally happening, man. Expect them eventually to try this tact for 60-something and -- heaven help us -- 70-something."
Should it be tact or tack -- or is either acceptable? This question has been a matter of disagreement within my family over the years. What is your take on this?
[The article continues, "The Wall Street Journal noting this aging recently, calling baby boomers 'has-beens.'" Harummmpphhh!]
[This message was edited by shufitz on Sat Jan 11th, 2003 at 20:52.]
I think the author is getting his words mixed up. tact means "sensitivity, diplomacy". The word he wants is probably tactic, meaning "a planned way of dealing with something". Tack could be used in a metaphorical sense, "sailing a particular course", and thus "plan".
If I read that I'd be pretty sure that the author meant tack as "try another tack" is a common expression in England. Tactic, as has been suggested also has a meaning that fits. Tact, however, just doesn't work in this context.
With big-wigs like Shufitz, arnie, Bob & Asa criticizing the use of "tact" in this sentence, I have to agree with them. However, much to the dismay of some of my family members, I have been known to use "tact" this way. I had thought it an acceptable form of "tactic"--damn! wrong again!
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