Our Next Grammar Challenge: Affect vs. Effect
I Swear, It’s Not as Difficult as It Seems to Choose the Right One
I’ve seen some memes out there on this topic, many of which essentially state, “Grammar nazis, shut up about the whole thing. We’ll use what we wanna use, so get over it.” Well, all you annoyed persons, I’m sorry to burst your bubble, but English is all about using the appropriate word in the appropriate context so that fellow English speakers will be able to understand, clearly, the thoughts you are trying to express. Otherwise, you might as well speak in beeps and bloops and expect everyone to understand. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m no C-3PO, able to understand six million forms of communication. (Though…wouldn’t that be awesome?!)
To break this issue down into its simplest terms, affect is usually a verb which means “to act on or change someone or something.”
The flood affected this year’s crops.
This detour will affect their commute.
Don’t let gossip affect your spirits.
Effect is usually a noun meaning “a change which results when something is done or happens.”
Alcohol seems to have no effect on her.
I added a fedora for effect.
The changes won’t go into effect for another year.
