Sunday, October 4, 2015

Language: Affect Vs. Effect

I've known a difference between affect and effect as far back as I can remember using the words.  The difference I understood was simple enough:  affect is a verb; effect is a noun.  However, I've recently learned that effect can also act as a verb and affect can act as a noun in the application of psychiatry.

The verbs:

Affect is commonly used as a verb and means "to act on; produce an effect or change in."

Examples: 

Her singing affected me deeply.


The weather affects my arthritis.

This dirty house is affecting my mood.

Effect can also act as a verb meaning "to bring about; accomplish; make happen."

Examples:

"Commentators say the very theology of Islam is being reinterpreted in order to effect a radical renewal of the religion."  http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7264903.stm


Bringing hurts and confessions out in the open eventually effected a renewed intimacy.

The Nouns:

Affect can act as a noun in the application of psychiatry meaning "feeling or emotion." or "expressed or observed emotional response."

Examples:

Dr. Quack observed her affect.  When he mentioned the Big Gulp, her affect was mournful.


Effect typically acts as a noun and has an assortment of meanings:

Meanings and Examples:

1. something that is produced by an agency or cause; result;consequence:
Exposure to the sun had the effect of toughening his skin.

2.  power to produce results; efficacy; force; validity; influence:
His protest had no effect.

3.  the state of being operative or functional; operation or execution;accomplishment or fulfillment:
She hopes to bring a plan into effect.

4. a mental or emotional impression produced, as by a painting or a speech.
The painting brought about an angry effect.

5.  meaning or sense; purpose or intention:
She disapproved of the proposal and wrote to that effect.

6.  the making of a desired impression:
We had the feeling that the big, expensive car was only for effect.

7.  an illusory phenomenon:
This type of animation produces a three-dimensional effect.

Definitions taken from www.dictionary.com


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