inculcate

Question

(1) I inculcated my son with a respect for the value of education.(2) I inculcated a respect for the value of education on my son.Someone says that (1) is a wrong use of "inclucate". Is it true?

Marius Hancu · Accepted Answer

I think they're both fine, but look at the etymology ...

[EDIT: See CORRECTION further on]

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in·cul·cate

Etymology: Latin inculcatus, past participle of inculcare, literally, to tread on, from in- ²in- + -culcare (from calcare to tread on, trample, from calc-, calx heel) -- more at CALK

1 : to teach and impress by frequent repetitions or admonitions : urge on or fix in the mind <they inculcated these principles at every opportunity> <the current emotional religious revivals inculcated an enthusiasm for its strong feelings and vivid scenes -- J.D.Hart> -- often used with in or into, sometimes with upon<social pressures inculcate behavior patterns in the young> <the techniques of plumbing were gradually inculcated upon his mind>

2 : to cause (as a person) to become impressed or instilled with something <teachers who fail to inculcate students with love of knowledge> <inculcated with every virtue>

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BarbaraPA · Answer

Wouldn't you say that you inculcated something IN someone, not ON someone? I've only seen it a few times and I've never used it myself.

Marius Hancu · Answer

CORRECTION to my above posting.

Garner, Modern American Usage, says "inculcated with" is wrong, and "inculcated into" correct. E.g.

(1) I inculcated my son with a respect for the value of education.

should be changed to:

(1) I inculcated the value(s) of education into my son.

And I think GG is onto something with her reservation to on.

Marius Hancu · Answer

And the final word:

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Kenneth G. Wilson (1923–). The Columbia Guide to Standard American English. 1993. inculcate (v.)

The prepositions combining with inculcate are usually in or into, as in We have tried to inculcate some of the principles of the work ethic in [into] our students. On, onto, and with also combine, but very rarely: Inculcate if you can on [onto] your classes a sense of the excitement of discovery. Inculcate your classes with a sense a pride.

When used with with, inculcate takes a direct object first: We tried to inculcate a sense of pride into the team or We tried to inculcate into the team a sense of pride, but We tried to inculcate the team with a sense of pride. This last combination is probably Standard but it is rare in Edited English, and some conservatives don’t like it at any level.

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