Affect vs. Effect
Dear Grammar Nazi,
I need your help. Your answer will effect a lot of people as we have a little bet going on at the office. See, Bill in Accounting says that ‘affect’ is a verb and ‘effect’ is a noun, but I’ve been using verbs for years now, and I’m certain ‘effect’ is a verb.
Rita in HR says we should ‘just look in a stinkin’ dictionary for crying out loud,’ but I trust you over a guy named “Merri” any day. So who’s right?
Counting on your help to pay off the bowling jersey and matching shoe set I splurged on. Best dressed bowler on the office team, baby!
Mr. Kirk N. Scottie
Wow, I hate to think what kind of bets are taking place in your office that what I say would effect actual people. Right up there with the birds and bees. But perhaps you only meant I might affect people. I’ll pretend you did.
Ironically, you are both right.
Affect is a verb, as in to influence. For example:
- Wearing a bowling jersey will AFFECT people’s opinion of you.
Effect is a noun that can also be used as a verb. Noun:
- The special EFFECTS in Star Trek are totally outdated. (I’m just guessing you’re a Star Trek fan)
And as a verb, meaning to cause or bring about:
- HR should effect a change in the office betting policy.
Hope that helps as I’ve given you all that I got, capt’n.
Sincerely,
The Grammar Nazi
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