Access Became a Verb Only Because of Computers
Access is the right or means of entry. It sat quietly as a noun for centuries until computing turned it into a verb.
Access is the ability, right or means to enter or use something. For most of its life it was only a noun; you gained access, you did not access. The verb arrived with computing in the 1960s, when programs needed a word for reaching data, and it spread outwards from there into everyday speech.
- The means or right of entry. *Wheelchair access.*
- To reach or retrieve. *Access the file.*
- Access as a modifier. *Access road.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | access | Public access. |
| Verb | access | Access the archive. |
| Adjective | accessible | An accessible building. |
| Noun | accessibility | Accessibility standards. |
| Related | accessory | An accessory to the crime. |
How it is used in a sentence
- Access to the beach is free.Noun.
- You cannot access the drive.Verb, from computing.
- The building is fully accessible.Usable by disabled people.
Accessibility in practice
- Step-free access — no stairs on the route
- Alt text — a written description of an image
- Screen reader — software that reads a page aloud
- Contrast ratio — how readable text is against its background
- Captions — text for spoken audio
From Latin *accessus*, an approach, from *accedere*, to come to — the same verb behind *accede* and *concede*.
Is *access* acceptable as a verb?
Yes. It was criticised when new, but it has been standard for decades in computing and general use.
Access or excess?
Access is entry. Excess is too much. They sound similar in rapid speech but share no meaning.