Affect vs effect

[Skunkworks]

This thread has had a positive *cough*ffect on helping me remember!

 

[ThestigGT999]

 

[Rilot]

Advice and Advise are others I see misused all the time too.

 

[Zogger]

you affect a change and measure the effect of that change

Probably the worst example because this is the exception - you actually effect a change. Effect as a verb means to bring about. If you affect a change then you are changing a change.

You could instead say; you affect a thing, and then measure the effect you had on that thing.

 

[Noxia]

Another common one people get wrong is when to use less or fewer.

 

[aowc02]

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

my head hurts.....

 

[Diddums x]

Is there a foolproof way to tell the difference?

Yes. Education.

 

[D.P.]

you affect a change and measure the effect of that change

This.

E.g., X affected Y, and you measured the effect.

 

[WillyNelson]

Affect is the Action.

 

[Raymond Lin]

You’ll be asking the difference beteeen you’re and your next.

 

[Kol]

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.

Add less / fewer to that too. It's really NOT hard.

 

[ElliorR]

In effect, Affect is a pretty good Batman.

 

[FoxEye]

This.

E.g., X affected Y, and you measured the effect.

Except the post you quoted is wrong. As Zogger said you effect a change. Not affect.

 

[Telecaster]

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.

See, all the others to me are blatantly obvious and don't give me pause for thought. Affect/Effect on the other hand always gets me, I think it's because in general conversation they sound identical, unless you purposefully enunciate them then you can never tell which is being said.

 

[FoxEye]

See, all the others to me are blatantly obvious and don't give me pause for thought. Affect/Effect on the other hand always gets me, I think it's because in general conversation they sound identical, unless you purposefully enunciate them then you can never tell which is being said.

The one I have to think about is who/whom.

It's obvious in cases such as "to whom" and "from whom".

But it can get a bit more cloudy like this:

"I brought cake to the girls who were punching a squirrel."

"I brought cake to the girls whom I had seen punching a squirrel."

I've had to read several articles about it and think I just about understand it now

 

[Gerard]

Same as people typing loose instead of lose, that crops up everywhere.

 

[Nitefly]

 

[mjt]

He's misused effect in this. It should be "Your grammar has affected me."
I'd like to think it's ironic but I honestly think they just ****** it up. Lame.

 

[Energize]

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

Except that affect refers to mental state.

 

[itchy]

Affect is to create a reaction, effect is the conclusion of said affect.