Confusing words affect:effect
- 1. Confusing Words COM 303 Editing: Brian Carroll w/adaptations & additions in January 2013
- 2. Who vs. Whom Who – Substitutes for the subject – Example: Who let the dogs out? Whom – Substitutes for objective pronouns (him, her) – Example: Whom did he question? – And serves as the object of a preposition – Example: Ask not for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee.
- 3. That vs. Which That – Use with essential phrases – Example: Go to the door that reads, “Clinic 1.” Which – Use with non-essential phrases – Example: The test, which was given Thursday, was difficult.
- 4. Among vs. Between Between – Use with two. – Example: He split the Calzone between Tim and Susan, because it was bigger than Tim’s head. Among – Use with three or more. – Example: We divided the money among the five children.
- 5. Compose vs. comprise Compose – Means to make up – Example: The class is composed of 25 students. Comprise – Means to include – Example: Our class comprises five women and six men.
- 6. Affect vs. effect Affect – A verb that means influence – Example: The drought will affect the color of the fall foliage. Effect – A noun that means result – Example: The medicine has unpleasant side effects.
- 7. Affect vs. Effect The majority of the time you use affect with an a as a verb and effect with an e as a noun 7 7
- 8. Affect vs. Effect Affect with an a means "to influence," examples: "The arrows affected the aardvark," " The rain affected Amy's hairdo." Affect can also mean, roughly, "to act in a way that you don't feel," examples: "She affected an air of superiority." “Her affect was disturbing to me: she was always trying to be something she was not” 8 8
- 9. Affect vs. Effect Effect with an e has a lot of subtle meanings as a noun, but basically its meaning is "a result" Examples: "The effect was eye-popping." "The sound effects were amazing." "The rain had no effect on Amy's hairdo" "The trick-or-treaters hid behind the bushes for effect.“ “The effect of plants on biodiversity is…” 9 9
- 10. Affect vs. Effect Grammar Girl says, use aardvark to remember: “The arrows affected the aardvark.” “The effect was eye-popping." Affect with an a goes with the a words arrow and aardvark Effect with an e goes with the e word eye-popping 10 10
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