effect vs affect 1

[acl03]

Can someone give me a clear description of how they differ, and when to use one versus the other?

I have had people explain this to me and I never quite understand it. Thanks!

________________________

Thanks,
Andrew

Hard work often pays off over time, but procrastination pays off right now!

 

[rjoubert]

http://www.tek-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=1357033

 

[acl03]

I was just posting a "never mind". Just found that thread myself. :~/

________________________

Thanks,
Andrew

Hard work often pays off over time, but procrastination pays off right now!

 

[SantaMufasa]

Effect (noun): 1. result. "What is the effect of drinking poison?" 2. portable belongings. "The widow picked up the personal effects of her deceased husband."

Effect (verb): to create or make: "The candidate promises to effect a change in the tax laws."

Affect (noun): a term in psychology refering to the observable manifestations of a subjectively experienced emotion. "When the young man proposed, her affect was a broad smile." (This usage, because of its limited meaning, is rare.)

Affect (intransitive verb): to pretend: "When my friend from Chicago visits Texas, he affects a southern accent."

Affect (transitive verb): to produce an effect; to influence. "Drinking too much alcohol affects drivers' reactions."

Mufasa
(aka Dave of Sandy, Utah, USA)
[I provide low-cost, remote Database Administration services: www.dasages.com]
“Beware of those that seek to protect you from harm. The cost will be your freedoms and your liberty.”

 

[SantaMufasa]

Sorry for my late posting (following the "never mind")...I was interrupted while composing and did not see the earlier posts.

Mufasa
(aka Dave of Sandy, Utah, USA)
[I provide low-cost, remote Database Administration services: www.dasages.com]
“Beware of those that seek to protect you from harm. The cost will be your freedoms and your liberty.”

 

[KornGeek]

[rant]
affect vs effect
there vs their vs they're
your vs you're
hour vs our (yes, I still see this one sometimes, and no, not as a typo)
"should of", "could of", "would of"

[Julie Andrews]
These are a few of my least favorite things.
[/Julie Andrews]
[/rant]

[aside]
I've also seen somebody suggest adding the word "soo" (pronounced "so"). Just like we differentiate between "to" and "too":
"I'm going to the store."
"The store is too crowded."
We could also differentiate between "so" and "soo":
"I need milk, so I'm going shopping."
"The store is soo crowded that I'll have to wait in line.

Personally, I like this idea.
[/aside]

 

[AnotherHiggins]

Once you have your head wrapped around the difference, an easy mnemonic to remember which is which might be, simply:

A comes before E.

[tt]_____
[blue]-John[/blue][/tt]
[tab][red]The plural of anecdote is not data[/red]

Help us help you. Please read FAQ 181-2886 before posting.

 

[kjv1611]

A comes before E.

Except when following C.. uh, wait a minute...


--

"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me

 

[kjv1611]

[more corny humor ahead]
...or was it accept
Argh!
[/corniness]


--

"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me

 

[BobRodes]

Nice explanation, Dave. I've found the noun "affect" used primarily in my musical studies, in classes that were working on getting at what it is in music that causes emotional response.