Legal Writing

If it's a verb, it's probably "affect"

Here is a screen caption from a recent MSNBC newscast:

The caption writer needed "affect" here, of course. One way to remember this is that "affect" is almost always used as a verb and you can remember "affect" with "the a means action." It would be better, though, to know the difference in meaning. "Affect" means to influence or to have an effect upon; "effect" as a verb means to create or to bring about or to accomplish, as in "We wish to effect [bring about] a change in consumers' attitudes."

Take this link to the Online Writing Lab at Purdue University for a good explanation (scroll down just a bit). Or go to Professor Paul Brians' explanation. Grammar Girl has a funny cartoon to explain "affect/effect."

Full post as published by Triangle Grammar Guide on March 23, 2008 (boomark / email).