GalacticCactus Forum
Forums => English & Linguistics => Topic started by: Annie Subjunctive on April 16, 2009, 10:20:20 AM
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I still have a hard time differentiating effect and affect as verbs. I think I understand the difference when they're nouns - effect is a result. Affect isn't used as often, and it means an affectation, n'est-ce pas?
But what's the difference between effecting something and affecting something? Can affecting something cause an effect? I think they're subtle enough that spelling/grammar checks don't catch them. What's an easy way to remember the difference?
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Effecting means you are causing/creating something.
Affecting means you are changing/altering something.
Hmm. Can't think of a good mnemonic though.
When you are effective, you are good at doing something.
When you are affected, you are deliberately being something you're not.
Hmm. Still, not sure how to memorize that other than by rote.
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I remember affect (to change) and effect (the change) like this : the effect.
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Unfortunately, I don't think there's an easy way to keep track of all the different meanings and forms of affect and effect.
As Jesse said, the primary meanings of each are something like "alter" and "create", respectively. But affect can also mean "to fake", as in an affectation. And then there's affect the noun, which means something else entirely.
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Can anyone use each one as a verb in a sentence?
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The congressman had a proven track record of effecting change in his district.
Even though Steve had just broken her heart, she affected a smile to show that he couldn't hurt her.
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Hmm. What if a teacher's aversion to risk is affecting her willingness to use new teaching methods?
Effecting? Affecting?
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Oh, I forgot that definition. Yes, that's affect. Effect as a verb only ever means "produce" or "create".
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OK. That's where I always get confused.
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And then there's affect the noun, which means something else entirely.
Right. That's the shrinky one. ;)
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What's to tricky about it? It's entirely consistent with the adjective "affected."
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Not really.
His consistent lack of affect was the first clue. The pointy ears were the second . . .
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What does the word "affect" mean in that sentence?
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Emotional affect is the term for emotional reactions that have a high probability of producing changes in awareness, facial expression, body language, physiological function, and behaviour.
(from here (http://www.affectivedesign.org/archives/30))
Or there's m-w.com's definition: the conscious subjective aspect of an emotion considered apart from bodily changes ; also : a set of observable manifestations of a subjectively experienced emotion
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Dude. And I thought I had that word down.
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I called it "shrinky" with malice aforethought. It really doesn't get a whole lot of use outside of psychiatry/psychology. So you'd need to know it to read a Dr. Sacks book, f'rinstance.
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Dude. And I thought I had that word down.
See? It's the verbal equivalent of a tapeworm.
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I could give you a failproof mnemonic, but it's potentially offensive. Consider yourselves warned.
I think it was my husband used to call the local food mart the mood fart. This got turned into the affectation flatulation. It's a helpful way to remember that affect = mood.
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I am so offended.
Nay, I am SHOCKED and APPALLED.
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*takes note of Annie's affected affect*
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That is an interesting effect that post produced.
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I'm irritated that "speech" is spelled with a double "e" and "speak" is spelled with an "ea". If it weren't for Spellcheck, I'd be making errors with these all the time.
Who's responsible for this? And how can we get the problem fixed? Would y'all be willing to sign a petition? And tell me whom I should be petitioning?
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They're spelled differently because they used to be pronounced differently. After the Great Vowel Shift they ended up with the same vowel.
But what does this have to do with affect and effect?
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I hated to start another thread, and since "affect" and "effect" differ by an "a" and an "e", I figured it was close enough.
I guess I figured wrong.
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I was actually thinking about making a post about Alf vs. Elf for the same reasons, so you're good, Shvester.
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you're good, Shvester.
Too bad I like my current sig too much to change it.
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I just don't see what's wrong with starting new threads.
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That's because you hate the planet.
Anti-conservationist!
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Al Gore knows about all the threads you waste.
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I felt like I started too many of the threads on this side.
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Tante, you could never start too many threads.
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How about polls?
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You could start too many polls. ;)