Betty writes:
Would you please discuss “effect” used as a verb (as opposed to “affect”)?
This is a thorny issue! "Affect" and "effect" are often confused. Let's start with their most common usages.
"Affect" is usually a verb meaning "to influence": How will this quiz affect my grade?
"Effect" is usually a noun meaning "result" or "consequence": The quiz had a bad effect on my grade.
But both words have other meanings as well. "Affect" can be a noun meaning "display of emotion": The killer displayed no affect when shown photos of his victims.
This is a rather technical word, used by psychologists but not by most people. (It's also where we get the word "affectionate.")
And to answer Betty's question, "effect" can be a verb meaning "to bring about," "to cause," or "to achieve": He effected his escape with knotted bedsheets. You will effect these changes on Monday.
This is another "technical" word, more used by bureaucrats than by ordinary people.
I wish I could affect my students' usage of these words!
Hello,
I think that your blog is very interesting.
I am looking for blogs about English as a second language and I thought you.
Sorry.. My english is not so good.
Hugs
Priscila
Posted by: Priscila | September 05, 2005 at 06:02 PM
Oi, Priscila--
Your English is better than my Portuguese! Glad to have a brasileira visiting here. Look in my list of ESL/EFL resources. I think you will find some blogs there.
I was in Sao Paulo in 2002 (for four days!) and enjoyed it a lot. I miss Brazil...
Posted by: Crawford Kilian | September 05, 2005 at 09:12 PM
First week of law school, and I must have seen the word "effect" used as a verb a few dozen times by now. I knew the justices of the Canadian Supreme Court couldn't be a bunch of illiterate dummies! Thanks!
Posted by: Martin Stoyanov | September 11, 2005 at 05:35 PM