Damping

[Unhinged]

If you adjust shock absorbers rate of damping you are changing the damping force.
Why do so many refer to it as dampening?
I think I am right in saying this is incorrect.
Pedant moment over.

[Unhinged]

Equus said:

I can't see any problem with it.

We're talking about a device that lowers the level of excitement of a spring. In that respect, the terms 'damper', 'damping' and 'dampening' all have their root in the same etymological concept: same as you would talk about 'dampening someone's enthusiasm'... ultimately, it's just a metaphor.

mmm. I see what you mean.
Still a google search for "damping" vs "dampening" tells me that "damping" is perhaps the best use of the word in context.
It's always going to annoy me that's for sure just like Nissan Jukes and people who drop litter