Grammar Wank #1: Affect vs Effect
Friday, May 21st, 2010, 9:36 amDefinition of Affect: to influence something or someone, to touch, to change, etc.
IT IS A VERB.
Examples:
* That guy’s ignorance really affected my level of calm.
* All this rain is really going to affect my ability to do my gardening.
* The death scene in that movie really affected me.
It can be used as a NOUN in ONE situation - in a psychology sense - in that situation, it refers to feeling.
Example:
* When she was told her son had died due to her incompetence, she took the news with little affect.
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Definition of Effect: the outcome of something; power to produce an outcome; a phenomenon; an impression; someone’s stuff etc.
IT IS A NOUN.
Examples:
* Slapping that guy seems to have had no effect on his desire to use correct grammar.
* It’s all about cause and effect, kids.
* Call it the Butterfly Effect if you so wish.
* I didn’t expect those changes to have that sort of effect.
* Get your personal effects and get out of my face.
ONLY used as a VERB when directly referring to bringing about an effect.
Example:
* I wonder how my workmates feel about those changes I effected.
