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What is the effect of a cold?

What is the difference between "effect" and "affect" and how should they be properly used?

  • This is one of my biggest English weaknesses! Off the top of my head, effect is the result of an action, and affect is to cause that result. Then there's another meaning to "affect" as well: to influence someone emotionally. Soooo... I suppose a rule of thumb is "effect" is a noun, and "affect" is a verb. However, the dictionary also says effect can be a verb! effect (n): something that is produced by an agency or cause; result; consequence: "Exposure to the sun had the effect of toughening his skin." effect (v): to produce as an effect; bring about; accomplish; make happen: "The new machines finally effected the transition to computerized accounting last spring." This is where I start to get confused. If "effect" works as a noun and verb, what do you need "affect" for? (Beyond the emotional influence meaning) I'd really like to know this...

  • Answer:

    Effect as a verb means "to bring about through a change" Their baby was effected by their love. Means that their love caused the baby. Affect as a verb means "to change, to cause an effect" Their baby was affected by their love. Means that their love had an effect on the baby, but the baby was not a result of it.

Kaptinn Kyle at Yahoo! Answers Visit the source

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Think of it this way; you're almost there anyway. To Affect is to Act. An Effect is an End. To affect is simply to make a change. To effect is to intentionally put something into practice or into being. It's a much more specific usage than to affect. Better? --------------------------------- Mad props to OLD. Yes, one can affect an accent or a gesture, hence the word "affectation". I had not thought of that one.

zinnprojectbig

Zinn up there pretty much nails it, but be aware he is giving just the verb usage of "effect". Yes, you do pretty much have it. "Effect" as a noun means a result: "What is the effect/What is the result of exposing lab mice to non-stop sunlight?" Do you want to be a little more confused now? "Affect" can also be a verb! But with a very different meaning: adopting an unnatural mannerism, usually in a snobbish way: "He affected an English accent." Usually used as noun: "His accent is nothing but an affectation."

Paranoia Agent

I usually tend to use affect more for the verb and effect as a noun. It sounds more normal that way. Just my two cents. ;)

Someone you dont know

Well, we didn't make the rules. We're just following them. .

chrlsshore

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