Affect versus Effect

MadJack

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Affect versus Effect
There is a lot of confusion around this one but here?s the rule: ?Affect? is a verb and ?effect? is a noun. It?s as simple as that.


Farther versus Further
While both words refer to distance, grammarians distinguish ?farther? as physical distance and ?further? as metaphorical distance. You can dive further into a project, for instance, or you can dive farther into the ocean.











































:0008
 

tball

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<TABLE border=0>
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</TD><TD>AFFECT/EFFECT

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There are five distinct words here. When ?affect? is accented on the final syllable (a-FECT), it is usually a verb meaning ?have an influence on?: ?The million-dollar donation from the industrialist did not affect my vote against the Clean Air Act.?

Occasionally a pretentious person is said to affect an artificial air of sophistication. Speaking with a borrowed French accent or ostentatiously wearing a large diamond ear stud might be an affectation. In this sort of context, ?affect? means ?to make a display of or deliberately cultivate.?

Another unusual meaning is indicated when the word is accented on the first syllable (AFF-ect), meaning ?emotion.? In this case the word is used mostly by psychiatrists and social scientists?people who normally know how to spell it.

The real problem arises when people confuse the first spelling with the second: ?effect.? This too can be two different words. The more common one is a noun: ?When I left the stove on, the effect was that the house filled with smoke.? When you affect a situation, you have an effect on it.

Less common is a verb meaning ?to create?: ?I?m trying to effect a change in the way we purchase widgets.? No wonder people are confused. Note especially that the proper expression is not ?take affect? but ?take effect??become effective. Hey, nobody ever said English was logical: just memorize it and get on with your life.

The stuff in your purse? Your personal effects.

The stuff in movies? Sound effects and special effects.

?Affective? is a technical term having to do with emotions; the vast majority of the time the spelling you want is ?effective.?


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tball

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"this place has got everything"

"this place has got everything"

<TABLE border=0><TBODY><TR align=left><TD>
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</TD><TD>BAR-B-Q, BARBEQUE

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<TABLE><TBODY><TR><TD>
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</TD><TD>BARBECUE

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Casual restaurants like to advertise ?BAR-B-Q? and you often see the spelling ?barbeque? and variations like ?barbaque,? but the standard form is ?barbecue.?

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Glenn Quagmire

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Nice. Although maybe you should start smaller, Jack. There's still the issue of "your vs. you're", as well as spelling errors like "loose" instead of lose, and "definately" instead of definitely. :0008
 

MadJack

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Nice. Although maybe you should start smaller, Jack. There's still the issue of "your vs. you're", as well as spelling errors like "loose" instead of lose, and "definately" instead of definitely. :0008

The ones I posted above trouble me for me.

The ones you posted and a lot more just bug the fuk outta me two.
 

Glenn Quagmire

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The ones I posted above trouble me for me.

The ones you posted and a lot more just bug the fuk outta me two.

Agreed. I think the ones you posted are a bitch for everyone. BTW, I liked the 'two' at the end of your sentence. I'm not the sharpest knife, but that was intentional, no? I totally forgot about the "to vs. too" issue. Oy vey!
 

MadJack

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Agreed. I think the ones you posted are a bitch for everyone. BTW, I liked the 'two' at the end of your sentence. I'm not the sharpest knife, but that was intentional, no? I had completely forgot about the "to vs. too" issue. Oy vey!

intentional :0074

I can always spot a Canadian because they never get the to, too, and two right :mj07:

I'm almost ready too hit the road for the golf outing. :mj07:
 

tball

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The ones I posted above trouble me for me.

The ones you posted and a lot more just bug the fuk outta me two.

sorry Jack, i realized after i posted, in copying and pasting as i did, might find you in some hot water. Dont want any negative effects to affect my posting capabilities here at MadJacks. as it were, i'm posting at a 4th grader's level on my own (and thats bein' generous, i know) nevermind catching the ire of good ol' Jack.
 

MadJack

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sorry Jack, i realized after i posted, in copying and pasting as i did, might find you in some hot water. Dont want any negative effects to affect my posting capabilities here at MadJacks. as it were, i'm posting at a 4th grader's level on my own (and thats bein' generous, i know) nevermind catching the ire of good ol' Jack.

I didn't read your post above :mj07:
 

Glenn Quagmire

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intentional :0074

I can always spot a Canadian because they never get the to, too, and two right :mj07:

I'm almost ready too hit the road for the golf outing. :mj07:

Yeah, but remember, those crazy Canucks throw a 'u' in everything. 'Colour,' 'favourite, parlour.' ;)

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