affect vs. effect

[low_delta]

I know the difference between the words "affect" and "effect," but I have trouble explaining it. "Affect" is a verb, and "effect" is a noun (most commonly). That explains it pretty well, actually, but people still have trouble remembering. Does anyone have any mnemonic or any kind of trick they use to remember?

Comments

Devil's Advocate

[the-99th-aisle.livejournal.com]

There's also "effect" is the sense that means "to produce the effect of" as in "The politician attempted to effect a change in civil rights legislation," which is essentially the same thing as "The politician attempted to affect the course of civil rights legislation."

As for me, I always have problems deciding when to double a consonant. Referring and traveling and bookkeeppingg. Yupp.

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

Yeah, "effect change." that's a tricky one. That's probably what trips up most people.