Dec 12 2007
Affect or Effect?
You don’t have to be an English teacher to get these two tricky textual tormentors right. Just follow this simple rule:
RULE: Use “affect” if (1) it’s a verb and (2) it means “to influence or change.” If it doesn’t meet both those criteria, use “effect.”
There are only a few exceptions to this rule, and they are so rare you shouldn’t have to worry about them. (For example, “affect” is also a noun that means “the conscious subjective aspect of a feeling or emotion.” If you ever use it in that context, shame on you.)
Using the simple rule above, fill in the blanks below with either “effect” or “affect”:
1. _______ (a verb) = to influence or change.
Example: This battle will ______ history.
2. ______ (a verb) = to cause.
Example: He will ______ many changes.
3. ______ (a noun) = result.
Example: Her kindness had no ______ on him.
Answers: 1: affect. 2: effect. 3: effect (although it means “influence,” it’s a noun – not a verb).
