The Impact of Affect/Effect
Oh, the difference a letter can make! The rules are fairly straightforward, but, as we all know about the English language, it’s the exceptions to the rules that make us pull our hair out. Let’s start with the short and sweet solution:
If it’s used as a noun meaning “result,” it’s effect (The full effect of the strike will not be known for months).
If it’s used as a verb meaning “to influence,” it’s affect (Her lack of enthusiasm will not affect my decision).
Do you hear the big BUT coming? Just to keep us on our toes, affect and effect can at times take on the persona of the other. Affect becomes the noun, and effect plays the role of a verb.
Woe is I (p. 89) sums the exceptions up succinctly:
“Affect, when used as a noun (pronounced with the accent on the first syllable), is a psychological term for ‘feeling.’ Termites display a lack of affect.”
“Effect, when used as a verb, means achieve or bring about. An exterminator effected the removal of the termites.”
You may have noticed the title of this blog. It relates to a personal pet peeve of mine that many of you may share: the use of impact as a verb. I truly believed this practice had only become popular in the last few years. However, dictionary.com explains that impact has been used as a verb since 1601!! I was shocked. I assumed that it was an easy replacement if someone wasn’t sure whether to use affect or effect in a sentence. Oh well, I guess we’ll have to accept that impact as a verb will inevitably impact our writing.
See if you can choose the correct word in these sentences.
1. Will the snow (affect/effect) our plans to go skiing?
2. We must (affect/effect) a change in his eating habits.
3. Smoking while pregnant produces a harmful (affect/effect) to the unborn baby.
4. The subjects were chosen for their lack of (affect/effect).
Answers: 1) affect; 2) effect; 3) effect; 4) affect
For more practice and tips, see these Web sites:
Get It Write
Guide to Grammar and Writing
Online Writing Support
Oh, the difference a letter can make! The rules are fairly straightforward, but, as we all know about the English language, it’s the exceptions to the rules that make us pull our hair out. Let’s start with the short and sweet solution:
If it’s used as a noun meaning “result,” it’s effect (The full effect of the strike will not be known for months).
If it’s used as a verb meaning “to influence,” it’s affect (Her lack of enthusiasm will not affect my decision).
Do you hear the big BUT coming? Just to keep us on our toes, affect and effect can at times take on the persona of the other. Affect becomes the noun, and effect plays the role of a verb.
Woe is I (p. 89) sums the exceptions up succinctly:
“Affect, when used as a noun (pronounced with the accent on the first syllable), is a psychological term for ‘feeling.’ Termites display a lack of affect.”
“Effect, when used as a verb, means achieve or bring about. An exterminator effected the removal of the termites.”
You may have noticed the title of this blog. It relates to a personal pet peeve of mine that many of you may share: the use of impact as a verb. I truly believed this practice had only become popular in the last few years. However, dictionary.com explains that impact has been used as a verb since 1601!! I was shocked. I assumed that it was an easy replacement if someone wasn’t sure whether to use affect or effect in a sentence. Oh well, I guess we’ll have to accept that impact as a verb will inevitably impact our writing.
See if you can choose the correct word in these sentences.
1. Will the snow (affect/effect) our plans to go skiing?
2. We must (affect/effect) a change in his eating habits.
3. Smoking while pregnant produces a harmful (affect/effect) to the unborn baby.
4. The subjects were chosen for their lack of (affect/effect).
Answers: 1) affect; 2) effect; 3) effect; 4) affect
For more practice and tips, see these Web sites:
Get It Write
Guide to Grammar and Writing
Online Writing Support
posted by Sonya at
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