Affect vs effect

Christmas themed thank · 1 Jun 2018 at 01:08

Is there a foolproof way to tell the difference?

Minusorange · 1 Jun 2018 at 01:16

If it feels wrong saying affect, then it's generally the right time to use it

If it feels right saying effect, then it's probably the wrong time to use it

I live by these rules and nobody has ever pulled me up on it

Or if you're a chicken when it comes to grammar Nazis just say impact and never worry about saying affect/effect again

eggyoke · 1 Jun 2018 at 01:34

I've always thought of Affect as being an influence over something, whereas Effect is the decisive outcome.

Like if you're walking a tight rope over a pool filled with sharks, your walk would be "affected" by the presence of the sharks below. However if nearing the end of your rope walk somebody throws a beachball at you which makes you fall into the pool of sharks, it was the person throwing the ball that effected the outcome.

I don't know if that's correct but I've always thought of it that way.

Thekwango · 1 Jun 2018 at 01:38

Gigabit said:
Is there a foolproof way to tell the difference?

Affect causes effect

Simples.

hughtrimble · 1 Jun 2018 at 02:03

Thekwango said:
Affect causes effect

Simples.

Like how an effect affects things?

Suicidal Ferret · 1 Jun 2018 at 02:07

Quite simple.

Affect is to change/alter, effect is the result.

Marmot · 1 Jun 2018 at 06:58

eggyoke said:
it was the person throwing the ball that effected the outcome.

That should be affected.

The effect of your post affected me in such a way that I needed to post a response to this.
Many people were affected by the American bombing of Japan, specifically the effects of the atom bombs on Nagasaki and Hiroshima.
I can affect my teammates morale by making jokes and providing praise, this effectively means they perform better in their work.

aardvark · 1 Jun 2018 at 07:25

Gigabit said:
Is there a foolproof way to tell the difference?

yep, learn the meanings of the words and then use them appropriately

james.miller · 1 Jun 2018 at 07:41

affect1
əˈfɛkt/
verb

have an effect on; make a difference to.
"the dampness began to affect my health"
synonyms: influence, exert influence on, have an effect on, act on, work on, condition, touch, have an impact on, impact on, take hold of, attack, infect, strike, strike at, hit; More

Thekwango said:
Affect causes effect

Simples.

^

dirtybeatfreak · 1 Jun 2018 at 08:11

eggyoke said:
I've always thought of Affect as being an influence over something, whereas Effect is the decisive outcome.

Like if you're walking a tight rope over a pool filled with sharks, your walk would be "affected" by the presence of the sharks below. However if nearing the end of your rope walk somebody throws a beachball at you which makes you fall into the pool of sharks, it was the person throwing the ball that effected the outcome.

I don't know if that's correct but I've always thought of it that way.

Nah, the person throwing the ball still affected the outcome.

Kenai · 1 Jun 2018 at 08:15

Generally affect is a verb and effect is a noun. Effect can be used as a verb too but this usage is less common than as a noun.

squerble · 1 Jun 2018 at 09:42

I remember that "affect" is an "action" (both begin with a), "effect" is "end result" (both begin with e).

adolf hamster · 1 Jun 2018 at 09:48

you affect a change and measure the effect of that change

wunkley · 1 Jun 2018 at 09:56

Good definitions so far.

Just to mix things up though, affect is also a psychological term meaning the experience of emotion/ feelings.

Rilot · 1 Jun 2018 at 09:57

I've never understood why people don't know the difference between those two words. There are many other examples like this too;

Learn / Teach
Lend / Borrow
Brought / Bought
Either / Neither

etc. etc.

mjt · 1 Jun 2018 at 10:07

aardvark said:
yep, learn the meanings of the words and then use them appropriately

This. effect can also be a verb.

verb
- cause (something) to happen; bring about. "the prime minister effected many policy changes"

d_brennen · 1 Jun 2018 at 10:11

Rilot said:
I've never understood why people don't know the difference between those two words. There are many other examples like this too;

Learn / Teach
Lend / Borrow
Brought / Bought
Either / Neither

etc. etc.

Would you borrow me 5 minutes to learn me how to use all these words? I bought my notepad with me

RoboCod · 1 Jun 2018 at 10:20

Rilot said:
I've never understood why people don't know the difference between those two words. There are many other examples like this too;

Learn / Teach
Lend / Borrow
Brought / Bought
Either / Neither

etc. etc.

d_brennen said:
Would you borrow me 5 minutes to learn me how to use all these words? I bought my notepad with me

Either of you make any sense to me.

krooton · 1 Jun 2018 at 10:59

I just refer to Mass Effect, and BAM, effect = noun, affect = verb

Hades · 1 Jun 2018 at 11:08

As mentioned, affect is usually a verb or an 'action' word. effect is the end result of that action and a noun.

Affect vs effect

Mobster