effect or affect

KAP · May 9, 2009

I've read some grammar rules on effect/affect, but for some reason, I'm unable to apply them to this sentence. I think effect is correct, but it just looks so wrong. Input from those in the know would be appreciated. Here's the word, surrounded by a few others for context.

Sebastian would give him another sip of whiskey, carefully
measured. It took amazingly little to effect the tiny, frail man, and

Sebastian didn’t want him too drunk to take home. Or talk.

Parametric · May 9, 2009

Affect.

To affect (verb) = to change.
Effect (noun) = a change. You affect something, causing an effect.
To effect (verb) = to make happen, bring about, etc. You effect a change.

dawinsor · May 9, 2009

Para is right.

Affect is usually a verb.
--The movie affected me.

Effect is usually a noun.
--It had an effect on me.

The problem is that effect is occasionally a verb meaning to put something into effect (as in the example Para gives). And affect is very occasionally a noun meaning emotion and used almost exclusively in psychology. An absence of affect is serious disorder.

You can pretty much count on doing well if you remember the normal uses.

KAP · May 9, 2009

Thanks, Parametric and dawinsor. I'm glad I asked and grateful you answered.

kap

Matera the Mad · May 9, 2009

It is a good thing to know. Just a couple of days ago I tried to start reading a novel and a misuse of "effect" hit me in the face. If it hadn't been an e-book I'd have thrown it across the room. Pfft!

KAP · May 9, 2009

Had quite an effect on you then.

Karen Duvall · May 9, 2009

I used to mix these two up ALL the time. Now I just do it sometimes.

benbradley · May 9, 2009

dawinsor said:
Para is right.

Affect is usually a verb.
--The movie affected me.

Effect is usually a noun.
--It had an effect on me.

The problem is that effect is occasionally a verb meaning to put something into effect (as in the example Para gives). And affect is very occasionally a noun meaning emotion and used almost exclusively in psychology. An absence of affect is serious disorder.

You can pretty much count on doing well if you remember the normal uses.

In context, I agree the OP's sentence should say affect instead of effect, but as you say (and it's amazing how quickly how this and other things on that site have become Internet classics), effect can sometimes legitimately be a verb.

Matera the Mad said:
It is a good thing to know. Just a couple of days ago I tried to start reading a novel and a misuse of "effect" hit me in the face. If it hadn't been an e-book I'd have thrown it across the room. Pfft!

So, did you delete the file?

Chase · May 10, 2009

I'm glad someone brought up e-books. Don't forget, just like e-mail, e-ffect is an electronically produced ffect.

Also, like alot, affect can be a stupid misspelling of a ffect, meaning one ffect.

However, affect is an actual word. It means the opposite of ffect, as in atypical and amoral.

No need to thank me. I enjoy e-pedantry on apedantry.

KAP · May 10, 2009

I e-ppreciate that, Chase.

Chase · May 10, 2009

I a ccept with a ffection. Or is it e-xcept?

Ludka · May 11, 2009

Nope. It's ex-cept. Like ex-wife.

Joker · May 11, 2009

Ludka said:
Nope. It's ex-cept. Like ex-wife.

If that's aimed at the two posts directly above yours, then surely you jest... Right? Though you must pardon me, I have no idea who or what you're replying to for sure, I'm just sort of guessing since you didn't put a quote in your message.

Ms Hollands · May 12, 2009

Oh, I used to get these two mixed up all the time until I found this simple way of remembering them.

thE Effect.

Make sense?

They're like matching bookends. If it's a noun (ie, you can stick a 'the' in front of it), then the ends with an 'e' and 'effect' begins with an 'e'.

This doesn't help when using the verb with an 'e', but I'm not sure I ever have.

Duncan J Macdonald · May 12, 2009

April Hollands said:
Oh, I used to get these two mixed up all the time until I found this simple way of remembering them.

thE Effect.

Make sense?

They're like matching bookends. If it's a noun (ie, you can stick a 'the' in front of it), then the ends with an 'e' and 'effect' begins with an 'e'.

This doesn't help when using the verb with an 'e', but I'm not sure I ever have.

That works until you arrive at the scene of the toxic waste spill and start counting all of thE Affected people...

Ms Hollands · May 13, 2009

*sigh* yes, there's always an exception to a rule, but it certainly helped me get the basics right. Take it for what it is - a basic rule.

Ludka · May 13, 2009

Joker said:
If that's aimed at the two posts directly above yours, then surely you jest... Right? Though you must pardon me, I have no idea who or what you're replying to for sure, I'm just sort of guessing since you didn't put a quote in your message.

It was a joke, and it was directed at the post directly above my post. I usually don't quote if I'm commenting on the post right above mine.

Relik7 · May 23, 2009

I'm so confused now. I always thought an effect was the End result of an action and affect was an Action hoping for a result.
"That music has an effect on me."
'She affected an innocent expression hoping they wouldn't question her.'
Find/replace usually causes more trouble than it's worth for me so...am I in trouble...again?

Dawnstorm · May 23, 2009

Relik7 said:
and affect was an Action hoping for a result.
"That music has an effect on me."

Well, here's the problem with this little mnemonic technique:

"To effect" is also an "action hoping for a result". The difference is this:

If the hoped-for result is the object of the verb, then it's "effect":

She effected a smile.

The smile is the result of "effecting".

If the hoped for result is only an attribute-change of the object of the verb, then it's "affect":

She affected a smile.

This means she caused it to widen, to dim, to stop...

Note that, if you want to "affect" something, it has to exist. If you want to "effect" something, it does not yet exist.

Thus:

No smile ---effecting a smile---> Smile

Smile ---affecting smile---> Smile, but different from before (or: no smile anymore)

Does this make sense?

Parametric · May 24, 2009

The level of grammar here is now way above my pay grade, but I'm wondering if "She affected a smile" is not "affect" as in change, but "affect" as in to fake or pretend. Like you can "affect" an accent, in the sense of putting on a false accent that's not your own, at which point you have an "affected" accent.

Maybe?

trocadero · May 24, 2009

An arrow affected my a**.

This is the one most commonly misused, I think. I'll have to ponder Parametric's example...

trocadero · May 24, 2009

From Purdue:

Less Common Uses:

Affect

2. af•fect (transitive verb)
1: to make a display of liking or using; cultivate <affect a worldly manner>
2: to put on a pretense of; feign <affect indifference, though deeply hurt>

3. af•fect (noun) [pronunciation: stress on first syllable, unlike verb forms of this word]
the conscious subjective aspect of an emotion considered apart from bodily changes <he displayed a distressing lack of affect>

Effect

2. ef•fect (transitive verb)

1: to cause to come into being <the citizens were able to effect a change in government policy>
2a: to bring about often by surmounting obstacles; accomplish <effect a settlement of a dispute> b: to put into operation <the duty of the legislature to effect the will of the citizens>

Dawnstorm · May 24, 2009

Parametric said:
The level of grammar here is now way above my pay grade, but I'm wondering if "She affected a smile" is not "affect" as in change, but "affect" as in to fake or pretend. Like you can "affect" an accent, in the sense of putting on a false accent that's not your own, at which point you have an "affected" accent.

Maybe?

Ah, yes, that makes sense. I was so set upon the oft-cited distinction that I completely forgot the much more natural meaning of "affect" in this circumstance. (And thanks, trocadero, for the dictionary entries.

)

Relik7 · May 26, 2009

Yeah, I see what you guys mean. I only make these things up to keep my spelling straight so even if it's not 100% leteraly acurate, my own personal brain cells can agree on stuff like good weather Always has no Hail. It looks so confusing to most people but it reminds me there's an A and no H,(until later).
*deep sigh*
Is there a publisher who's known to be kind to dyslexics? If so can I trust the proof readers?

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