Author Topic: cries (Read 4380 times)

Sheila · « **on:** December 02, 2004, 11:21:17 AM »

Is it:

"the affects of temperature changes on individual cells"

or

"the effects of temperature changes on individual cells"

I *think* it's effects, but I really don't know.

Jonathon · « **Reply #1 on:** December 02, 2004, 11:42:35 AM »

"Me fail English? That's unpossible!"

You're right—it's "effects." My general mnemonic device: affect is an action (a verb), so the other one is a noun. Of course, there are exceptions, but this helps in most situations. I also hear that dictionaries can be helpful.

Porter · « **Reply #2 on:** December 02, 2004, 11:43:22 AM »

http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=affect
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=effect

The second one is the noun.

Sheila · « **Reply #3 on:** December 02, 2004, 11:50:11 AM »

Porter I had actually looked there before decided "effects", but you can't be too careful with words. They seem to get new meanings all the time. Or at least new connotations.

VV

Noemon · « **Reply #4 on:** December 02, 2004, 12:51:08 PM »

The whole affects/effects thing is one that trips me up too, no matter how often I look it up. I expect that that mnemonic device will set me straight though. I typically avoid the problem by structuring what I'm writing so that I don't have to use the word in question.

eslaine · « **Reply #5 on:** December 02, 2004, 01:01:57 PM »

Funny, my wife asked me that same question.

At least I gave her the correct answer.

Sheila · « **Reply #6 on:** December 02, 2004, 01:10:04 PM »

Bill? Is that you?

hey, Noemon, did you actually get the long rambling email I sent you a couple days ago?

eslaine · « **Reply #7 on:** December 02, 2004, 01:17:00 PM »

No. But I was a little freaked when you asked the question.

FLR · « **Reply #8 on:** December 02, 2004, 03:24:10 PM »

My mnemonic for this is quite elaborate. That is, I had an ex boyfriend who called the food mart the mood fart. One time I thought it would sound more erudite to call it the affectation flatulation. And that's how I remember that affect is a noun meaning mood. If it is a noun and doesn't mean mood, it must be effect.

I also mentally pronounce "cause and effect" with an e sound so that helps. And "effect change in the system" though it's with a short instead of a long e.

P.S. I thought it was going to be whether you should say temperature change or temperature changes

Noemon · « **Reply #9 on:** December 02, 2004, 06:51:57 PM »

Yup, got it the other day, but I haven't gotten a chance to write back. I've been working on cataloging my books, now that most of them are with me at my house, when I wasn't sleeping and trying to get over whatever bug I had the first half of this week.

Sheila · « **Reply #10 on:** December 03, 2004, 08:44:03 AM »

You are so sending me a copy when you get done.

Sheila · « **Reply #11 on:** July 11, 2006, 01:01:14 PM »

I keep seeing people use "karma" when they mean "fate" or "destiny" so much so that I'm starting to wonder if it's me that doesn't understand karma. Is asking them to clarify their use of the word acceptable? Or is it like asking people if whatever they've called ironic really is? I've been fussed at for that, but I'm usually honest in asking since I have no grasp of the concept "irony".

edit: dictionary.com agrees with people. wiki agrees with me. *sigh*

Jonathon · « **Reply #12 on:** July 11, 2006, 01:18:54 PM »

I've most often heard it used in a dumbed-down version of Dictionary.com's first definition: the idea that the good and bad things you do in your life will affect your life (usually that they come back to bite you). This seems to be the definition that My Name Is Earl uses.

If people are using it to mean "fate," then they're just dumb. And I'm sure that I'm going to start noticing that usage everywhere, too.

Porter · « **Reply #13 on:** July 11, 2006, 01:20:11 PM »

Quote

Or is it like asking people if whatever they've called ironic really is?

I think so. That word, as used, has changed meanings over the last decade.

Teshi · « **Reply #14 on:** July 11, 2006, 07:10:58 PM »

I didn't know people had problems with affects/effects until I came to Canada. I think it's a North American pronunciation thing. When they sound almost the same, it's hard to tell them apart, even if they're used correctly. The effect is simple: Your pronunciation affects your understanding of the two words.

E-nun-ci-ate

And everything will be fine.

Also, you can remember "the" (e)(e) "effect".

Also, you say "affectation" to make the noun not "effectation", because "effect" is already a noun.

Except when it's a verb: "He effected the complete evacuation of the building"

MWAHAHAHA...

(I need to go to bed)

rivka · « **Reply #15 on:** July 11, 2006, 07:24:58 PM »

Of course, affect can be a noun as well. Although not a commonly used one, except perhaps by shrinks.

pooka · « **Reply #16 on:** July 11, 2006, 07:41:25 PM »

I think an integral part of karma is that it carries over from one life to the next- if being used in a strictly theological sense and not the Americanized sense. P.S. One of the very interesting things about Life of Pi is that he hardly used the word "karma" at all.

Jonathon · « **Reply #17 on:** July 11, 2006, 08:13:42 PM »

Quote

I didn't know people had problems with affects/effects until I came to Canada. I think it's a North American pronunciation thing. When they sound almost the same, it's hard to tell them apart, even if they're used correctly. The effect is simple: Your pronunciation affects your understanding of the two words.

I don't think it affects anyone's understanding of the words, though it certainly affects the spelling.

Teshi · « **Reply #18 on:** July 14, 2006, 03:59:50 PM »

Er... yes.

Think of "understand" as being a very wide open kind of word that encompasses whatever meaning you want to apply to it

.

Jonathon · « **Reply #19 on:** July 14, 2006, 04:01:47 PM »

I don't understand.

Teshi · « **Reply #20 on:** July 14, 2006, 04:03:00 PM »

*weeps*

My brain no functiony any longer.

Jonathon · « **Reply #21 on:** July 14, 2006, 04:09:35 PM »

Maybe you just need a nap.

Sheila · « **Reply #22 on:** July 25, 2006, 02:00:35 PM »

Quote

How do the program's IPT structure and operation provide for system integration?

or

Quote

How does the program's IPT structure and operation provide for system integration?

I think it's the first.

JT · « **Reply #23 on:** July 25, 2006, 02:17:37 PM »

Program does.
Programs do.

It's the possessive that makes this particular case confusing, because it sounds like programs (plural).

Good to see you, and I hope things are going good wit' ya.

Sheila · « **Reply #24 on:** July 25, 2006, 02:29:12 PM »

Really? I mean, if it were "How does the program's IPT structure provide for system integration?" I wouldn't find the possessive confusing. But there are two things! Is it still does?

"Is it still does?"

Author Topic: *cries* (Read 4380 times)

Author Topic: cries (Read 4380 times)