How to Choose Between Affect and Effect

One of the most often asked grammar questions is when to use affect and when to use effect.

Affect is used as a verb, and effect is most often used as a noun. Since only nouns can be modified by the articles a, an and the, I can show you a simple trick to help you choose the correct word.

If you are not sure how to choose between affect or effect, see if one of the articles a, an, or the will work in front of it. If so, effect is probably the correct choice. If you try to place an article in front of a verb, it will not be correct.

Examples:

·      Your behavior had a negative effect on me.

·      Polio affected his legs.

It may help you to know: 

• Effect usually means the result, consequence, or outcome.
• Affect usually means to influence, to impact, or to sway.

Now you try it:

1.     She wore a tiara on her head and the (affect, effect) was ridiculous.

2.     Watching a feel-good movie did not (affect, effect) his bad mood.

3.     Your behavior is having an (affect, effect) on everyone in the class.

Answers:

1.     effect  The article the appears before the noun effect.

2.     affect  The articles a, an, and the would not make sense before the verb affect.

3.     effect  The article an appears before the noun effect.

It is possible, although not as common, for the word effect also to be used as a verb. It is most often used in formal situations. If so, it will mean to bring forth or give rise to. If you are not sure if the word in question is a verb, try substituting one of these synonyms: created, caused, produced, bring on, or generate.

Example: The new law effected a change in the way criminals are prosecuted.

Note that you could substitute a synonym such as created, caused, produced, brought on, or generated.

Most of the time, your choice will be between the noun effect and the verb affected.

With practice, it should become easier for you to choose the correct word.

Click here for a practice lesson that includes a self-grading Boom Card Deck to practice using affect and effect. You can try it out here.

Thanks for reading,

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Word Choice Creative Writing Tip #5

Get Your Word's Worth and Say Exactly What You Mean

Word Choice Creative Writing Tip #5

The distinction between these two words is minimal, but the word essential is more often used when a stronger meaning is required.

If a doctor tells you that quitting smoking is necessary for your good health, you would probably take notice. 

If that same doctor tells you that quitting smoking is essential to your good health, I would hope you would throw your tobacco products away and take heed.

Having ripe tomatoes is necessary for making flavorful soups, but having ripe tomatoes is essential for making tomato soup.

I hope this post helps you choose the word that will express exactly what you wish to say.

Thanks for reading,

Word Choice Creative Writing Tip #4

Get Your Word's Worth and Say Exactly What You Mean

Word Choice Creative Writing Tip #4

• Ingenious is from the Latin ingenium meaning inborn talent or natural quality.
• Ingenuous is from the Latin ingenuus meaning simple, honest, childlike, or trusting.

One way to remember the distinction between these two words is to note that the word ingenious sounds like the word genius while the word ingenuous sounds like the word genuine.

The inventor created an ingenious device to cut raw onions.
The party room was filled with laughing, ingenuous children.

I hope this post helps you choose the word that will express exactly what you wish to say.

Thanks for reading,

Word Choice Creative Writing Tip #3

Get Your Word's Worth and Say Exactly What You Mean

Word Choice Creative Writing Tip #3

Stationery is the word to use for notebooks, pens, pencils, paper, envelopes, and other necessary writing materials.

Stationary is the word for standing still.

It is often difficult to remember how to spell these two words, but a teacher I had in elementary school gave me a trick that I still remember after all these years. 

The "e" in stationery stands for "envelope."

I wrote the letter on flowered stationery.

I am going to exercise on a stationary bicycle.

I hope this post helps you choose the word that will express exactly what you wish to say.

Thanks for reading,

Word Choice Creative Writing Tip #2

Get Your Word's Worth and Say Exactly What You Mean

Word Choice Creative Writing Tip #2

Prescribe means to lay down a rule or to write a script for medication.

Proscribe means to forbid.

To use these words correctly, think of prescribe as "to dictate" and proscribe as "to prohibit."

The doctor is going to prescribe a medication for my headaches.

The law proscribes discrimination based on race or gender.

I hope this post helps you choose the word that will express exactly what you wish to say.

Thanks for reading,

Word Choice Creative Writing Tip #1

Get Your Word's Worth and Say Exactly What You Mean

Word Choice Creative Writing Tip #1

Infectious is from the Latin inficere and means to taint. (An infectious disease is spread by agencies such as air and water.)

Contagious is from the Latin tangere and means to touch. (A contagious disease is transmitted by touching.)

When considering the figurative uses of these words, infectious suggests that something is irresistible and contagious places an emphasis on quickness and speed.

• His laughter was infectious and soon we were laughing with him.
• Shots rang out and a contagious fear spread through the theatre.

I hope this post helps you choose the word that will express exactly what you wish to say.

Thanks for reading,