Last week I posted a tip about the difference between you’re and your. I was so excited about the response to the post! People commented on the blog post, on our Facebook fan page, and our Twitter account (some were DMs so you won’t be able to see them), and many made requests and suggestions.
Today’s suggestion comes from one of the commentors on our post- Markk.
The difference between “affect” and “effect” is hard on native English speakers, not just those who do not speak English as a mother tongue.
The easiest way to differentiate between the two, in my opinion, is to remember that affect is generally a verb, and effect is a noun. In other words, the way you affect someone could have an effect on them.
An effect is generally a result:
“Setting low speed limits were supposed to change driving behavior, but it had the opposite effect - more people are breaking the law by driving faster than the speed limit.”
To affect is to make a difference to or create change in something:
“Using margarine instead of butter will affect the final flavor of the cake - it won’t taste the same.”
In other words, when you affect something, you product an effect on it.
Are there any grammar questions you’d like answered? Or tips you think your fellow writers would find helpful? Let us know in the comments!
Thank you for that I was completely confused and pretty much just used effect for most of my writing even when it was a appropriate to use affect. Very good post just curious though is there anyway you could post about when to use a comma verse a semi colon and when neither are appropriate and it would be better just to end the sentence with a period?
I am a fan of your tips. I read your tips through email. Few days ago i also face this problem, now it’s clear. Thank you for your post.
Thanks for the clarification on these two words as I’ve often been confused on how and when to use them.
I have another error that I hear more often than I see: “irregardless”.
There is no such word. It’s simply “regardless”.
Salam n Hola
Thanks for the clarification. I’ve always had problem distinguishing between affect and effect. Normally I would just go with which sounds better in the sentence between the two. Now I have a reference point with examples. Love it.
By the way.. in the line
“In other words, when you affect something, you product an effect on it.”
That’s suppose to be produce and not product right? Product just doesn’t sound right in there.
Thanks.
it is quite good one.