affect and effect

Welcome to A2K, crucifixation. Just remember that most of the time "effect" is a noun, but it can be used as a verb in certain instances.

ex. He effected a change in the system by adding new dimensions.

Affect on the other hand, is almost always a verb.

ex. The teacher affects us in a positive manner, by showing concern for our lack of understanding.

You can use AFFect as a noun. It relates to emotional tone of a person.

"She was very depressed, and her affect was flattened".

One way to remember the difference is that effect is active, i.e. something that is done will have a certain effect. Affect is more passive, i.e. something that happens may affect something else or someone's action may affect you. E=active; A=passive.

I never heard that one, Phoenix. Guess I need to get out my old text book.

Effect is used in relation to Cause. Affect is a cause as to cause an effect. See?

It is a word that is used a lot in the mental health field, but not in common usage.

http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/affect.html

We've probably done more to confuse the asker than clarify his question. Ain't that always the way?

Phoenix, I know what you mean without even checking it out. The affective domain is used in psychology to refer to emotional reactions.

I don't get it

I just go with what sounds right!

When you affect someone (or something), it has an effect on them (or it) ...

thanks for all the reply

this one really help in understanding a bit about the two words




im not still clear, but it helps

now is this correct?:


I advised that she should have informed me immediately upon receipt of this information, as it effects her eligibility for Public Funding.

I'm afraid not, crucifixation. I failed to point out that in most cases you have to be careful whether the words are being used as nouns or verbs. Your sentence could actually use either word but the sentences would have to read like this:

(1) I advised that she should have informed me immediately upon receipt of this information, as it affects her eligibility for Public Funding.

(2) I advised that she should have informed me immediately upon receipt of this information, as it will have an effect on her eligibility for Public Funding.

I know that this can be confusing, expecially as there are cases where 'affect' can be used as a noun and 'effect' as a verb. English can be a horrible language sometimes.

I believe NickFun struck at the point directly.

Effect: To Cause
e.g. His action will effect new potential dangers.

Affect: To have an impact on
e.g. His action will affect the already endangered system


Hope that can help

JB

thanks

As a token Englishman here are my comments.

In general

To affect (verb) means to alter or modify without any specific goal in mind . Those alterations are effects.(noun)
(Less usually "personal effects" (noun) can mean possessions)

To effect (verb) means to deliberately bring about as in "he effected his escape by using a disguise"

Affect relates to affections. Effect relates to simple trial and error.

One may whisper sweet words of romance into a young divorcee's silky locks in order to gain her affection or riffle through a think roll of twenties to create an effect in her mind.

Affectations, perhaps. Affections, never. Well, hardly ever.