I've had this entry planned for a while but something kept happening to delay it.
In my last blog post, Accept and Except, I alluded to today's entry.
In fact, after last week's entry, this subject was requested.
After the long wait here it is, "Affect" versus "Effect".
This one often seems to confuse the pants off of people. (See blog entry "Literally" to realize I'm being figurative.)
If you're chatting with me, and you get this one wrong, I will most likely not point it out. However, the difference should be known.
Both affect and effect, generally have the same definition. Causing a change, or a consequence.
"Cunning Grammarian, what's the difference?"
Well, dear reader, the difference is one is a noun and the other a verb.
Affect is the verb.
Effect is the noun.
How can you tell the difference easily? "The" is the answer. If you can put "The" in front of the word properly, then it is "effect". You can remember it because "The" ends in "E" and "effect" starts with an "E".
The effect of bowling in slippers is that you may slide all over the lane.
Bowling in slippers affects how you move; consequently, you may slide all over the lane.
That is how effect will affect your writing.
(In psychology it seems that "affect" can also be used as a noun, but this is not in typical day to day use.)
I was ready to pounce with the psychological use of 'affect' as a noun but I read to the end and basked in the glory of your grammar excellence. A very effective piece Cunning Grammarian!
ReplyDeleteThere's also a verb form of effect, meaning "to actualize" or "to bring about." As in: "The Grammarian strove to effect change in the way the people around him used language."
ReplyDeleteBy and large, though, a very helpful post. If only the people who worked on that national "Fisherman's Friend really eFFects you" campaign had seen it in time.