i'm not sure if this is the right topic but it close enough.
what is the difference between affect and effect?
thanx for any answers.
ps. this has been sort of explained in other conversations i know but i still don't understand properly.
nix-j-c Thurs 20/12/07 17:09
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To affect something you have to do something to it change its original state. The end result would be the effect.
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Part 1
For a start, both words may be either nouns or verbs, so let us look at the noun meanings first and then the verbal ones...
1 NOUNS
a. The noun, ‘effect', is basically the result of an action, as in ‘Drowsiness is one effect of taking this drug' or ‘What effect on my career will it have if I fail this test?'
b. It can also mean goods or property, as in ‘After his death, his effects were sent to his son in America.'
c.Thirdly, it can mean special tricks and illusions as used in films and television, as in ‘The special effects in Star Wars were quite stunning!' (Neither of the two additional meanings at ‘b' or ‘c' is likely to be confused with ‘affect'.)
d. The noun, ‘affect', is normally used only in psychological jargon to mean the emotion lying behind actions as in ‘The dream process is an affect mechanism.' (As such, you can more or less forget the noun, ‘affect'...unless you are a psychologist, of course!)
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Part 2
2 VERBS
a. The verb, ‘effect', means to produce, accomplish or bring about, as in ‘By her ceaseless campaigning, she eventually managed to effect her husband's release from prison.' So, Effect has to do with the End result. Notice the two capital letters ‘E'.
b. The verb, ‘affect', means to act upon or influence, as in ‘The illness affected him in a variety of ways.' So, Affect relates to Act upon. Notice the two capital letters ‘A'.
c. It can also mean to make a pretence of, as in ‘He affected a Scottish accent in order to befriend her.' (This additional meaning is unlikely to be confused with ‘effect'.)
Confusion is likely to arise, therefore, only with regard to Paragraphs 2a and 2b...ie when the words are used as verbs. To avoid problems, remember the matching capital letters.
Both words may be nouns or verbs, so...
1 NOUNS
a. The noun, ‘effect', is the result of an action, as in ‘Drowsiness is one effect of taking this drug' or ‘What effect on my career will it have if I fail this test?'
b. It can also mean goods or property, as in ‘After his death, his effects were sent to his son in America.'
c.Thirdly, it can mean illusions as used in films and television, as in ‘The special effects in Star Wars were quite stunning!' (Neither of the two additional meanings at ‘b' or ‘c' is likely to be confused with ‘affect'.)
d. The noun, ‘affect', is normally used only in psychological jargon to mean the emotion lying behind actions as in ‘The dream process is an affect mechanism.' (As such, you can more or less forget the noun, ‘affect'...unless you are a psychologist, of course!)2 VERBSa. The verb, ‘effect', means to produce,
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My apologies for the duplication above. Part 2 should have ended at "capital letters".
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More Claptrap-Don't worry about it-We all know what you mean.
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In speech, it may not matter much, Brionon, as the two words sound virtually identical. It might be a different matter, however, if one was used in writing where the other ought to have been. The readers of the mistake may well form conclusions about the writer that the latter would rather they didn't! (And that, I have little doubt, is why the question was asked.)
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heya
I am always getting confused about affect and effect, but its funny because sometimes I would write it down with out even thinking and then when I'm re reading what I've wrote I second guess myself its nice to know I'm not the only one!!
amx
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