Today’s two grammar tips:
- The word effect can be a noun or a verb. As a noun, it means “the result or outcome of something,” as in “The effect of the tornado was to destroy three blocks in town.” As a verb, it means “to make something happen,” as in “The supervisor tried to effect a change in the workers’ habits.”
- The word affect can be a noun or a verb. As a noun, it means “an emotional state,” as in “The child’s affect was disturbed by the horror movie.” (The truth is, psychologists and psychiatrists are about the only people who use the word in this way.) As a verb, it means “to influence something,” as in “The movie didn’t affect me nearly as much as it affected my sister.”
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