Effect or Affect

Gary O'

Gary O'

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Location
Oregon
Effect or Affect

I’m sure this has be beat to its deserving death, but even after reading several ‘explanations’, I remain as out to sea as ever.

To me, both can be used in any related application, and only the most OCD of grammarians can know which.
Anyway, this friggin’ word always stumps me, especially after reading something like this;

Affect and effect are easy to mix up. Here’s the short version of how to use affect vs. effect. Affect is usually a verb, and it means to impact or change. Effect is usually a noun, an effect is the result of a change. Watch out! There are certain situations and fixed phrases that break the general usage rules for these words.
Now that the basics are out of the way, the time has come to learn the intricacies of how to use affect and effect effectively. Or is it affectively? If you’re lucky, it may well be a little bit of both. (For the curious, effective would mean successful in this context. And when it comes to grammar, success is the goal.)


Does this effect…affect……disturb anyone else like this?
 

I see them used incorrectly (at least as far as how I was taught was the proper use) all the time. I still usually have to think about it,but I think I usually get it right.
 
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I couldn't resist posting on here.
Forget about nouns, verbs and adjectives for a moment.

Effect is a passive word. Some "thing" has to be done, said or happen for the word "effect" to be used correctly. For example, When my boss chewed me out, his words had a negative effect on me. An effect is the result of something active occuring.

Affect, on the other hand, is a very active word. It is almost the opposite of the word "effect". For example, If I want to affect change in my workplace, I need to prepare my facts for senior management. Here, you are actively doing something to change an outcome.

"Affect" is what you need to do in order to see the "effect". "Effect" is the result of an action. "Affect" is the action.

Hope this helps, at least somewhat. :)
 
Uptosnuff said:
I couldn't resist posting on here.
Forget about nouns, verbs and adjectives for a moment.

Effect is a passive word. Some "thing" has to be done, said or happen for the word "effect" to be used correctly. For example, When my boss chewed me out, his words had a negative effect on me. An effect is the result of something active occuring.

Affect, on the other hand, is a very active word. It is almost the opposite of the word "effect". For example, If I want to affect change in my workplace, I need to prepare my facts for senior management. Here, you are actively doing something to change an outcome.

"Affect" is what you need to do in order to see the "effect". "Effect" is the result of an action. "Affect" is the action.

Hope this helps, at least somewhat. :)
Click to expand...

it actually did...somewhat

now, to remember

maybe a cute little saying, like; this could affect the effect
 
Uptosnuff said:
I couldn't resist posting on here.
Forget about nouns, verbs and adjectives for a moment.

Effect is a passive word. Some "thing" has to be done, said or happen for the word "effect" to be used correctly. For example, When my boss chewed me out, his words had a negative effect on me. An effect is the result of something active occuring.

Affect, on the other hand, is a very active word. It is almost the opposite of the word "effect". For example, If I want to affect change in my workplace, I need to prepare my facts for senior management. Here, you are actively doing something to change an outcome.

"Affect" is what you need to do in order to see the "effect". "Effect" is the result of an action. "Affect" is the action.

Hope this helps, at least somewhat. :)
Click to expand...
Yep. This is very good distinctive clarification. :thumbsup:
 
lotsa good usage examples
My beleaguered mind is searching for an 'except after C' aphorismy thingy

or

effect-noun
affect-verb

affect-action
effect-????...need sumpm here that starts with an e

then all I gotta do is paste it somewhere handy in my frontal lobe
 
Effect and affect are often confused because of their similar spelling and pronunciation. The verb [SUP]2[/SUP]affect usually has to do with pretense.
    • she affected a cheery disposition despite feeling down
The more common verb [SUP]3[/SUP]affect denotes having an effect or influence.
    • the weather affectedeveryone's mood
The verb effect goes beyond mere influence; it refers to actual achievement of a final result.
    • the new administration hopes to effect a peace settlement
The uncommon noun affect, which has a meaning relating to psychology, is also sometimes mistakenly used for the very common effect. In ordinary use, the noun you will want is effect.
    • waiting for the new law to take effect
    • the weather had an effect on everyone's mood
 

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