Help!
I need the Grammar Patrol. Can anyone give me an easy rule on when to use affect/effect? Every time I need one of those words I look it up on Merriam-Webster, and even from the definitions I can’t figure it out. Help, please?
I need the Grammar Patrol. Can anyone give me an easy rule on when to use affect/effect? Every time I need one of those words I look it up on Merriam-Webster, and even from the definitions I can’t figure it out. Help, please?
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April 24th, 2007 at 1:09 pm
If it has an effect, it affects something.
For most purposes, effect is a noun, and affect is a verb.
That’s as far as I go in the Grammar Patrol game: I now pass it off so the more writerly readers to complicate and clarify things.
April 24th, 2007 at 3:22 pm
I would say, Ahistorically, that no complication is necessary. Effect is usually a noun. Affect is usually a verb. Other uses of these two words are esoteric and one probably need not worry about them.
April 24th, 2007 at 8:37 pm
Something *has* an effect.
Something *affects* something else.
(Or, to complicate things further, a person can have low *affect*, in terms of demonstration of emotional reaction, but that’s a more specialized use.)
(And someone can *effect* something, in terms of effecting a rescue. Again, not as common a use.)
April 24th, 2007 at 9:33 pm
Effect means “to bring about”
Affect means “to influence”
You need Strunk & White’s Elements of Style (everyone does)
April 25th, 2007 at 11:53 am
I have issues with this one too, so I use the rule, if I can put “an” or “the” infront of it, I should use “effect” (because it’s a noun, like everyone said, but I don’t typically think of words as parts of speech like that).
April 25th, 2007 at 3:44 pm
Thanks, everyone! Noun/verb - I can handle that. I like the “the” suggestion, too, Sage. That’s going to be very helpful.
April 26th, 2007 at 2:52 am
I know you already have the whole effect/affect puzzle figured out, Terry, but there’s this great podcast on affect/effect at
Grammar Girl’s Quick and Dirty Tricks to Better Writing Check it out: I like her humor! My students love her!
April 26th, 2007 at 2:01 pm
Looks like a great resource, Ms. Blog - I’ll check it out. Thanks!