Hatrack River Writers Workshop: A Quick Affect/Effect Question

This is topic A Quick Affect/Effect Question in forum Open Discussions About Writing at Hatrack River Writers Workshop.

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Posted by GZ (Member # 1374) on :

So here I am, doing a semi-final edit on a shortstory I just finshed. Here's the questioned sentence. I've included the one before it for context.

quote:
I could see his arm tremble, the sheen of fresh sweat glistening on his skin. Never had I seen him so affected, not even when he held the mountain.

Now several mintues spent with the dictionary suggests I've picked the right one, since the the definition of "to produce a material influence upon or alteration in <paraisys affected the limbs>" seems to properly fit the situation and usage above.
Still, I wouldn't mind a few of our grammer experts weighing in on this one.

Posted by punahougirl84 (Member # 1731) on :

You chose wisely!

Posted by Hildy9595 (Member # 1489) on :

Agreed!

"It had an effect."

"It affected him."

Posted by Balthasar (Member # 5399) on :

What you need to remember is that affect measn to influence or to have an influence on, and effect measn to bring about, to execute. So you get the sentence:

quote:
The two-party coalition effected the passage of the tax program, which will affect almost every tax-payer.

Perhaps the easiest litmus-test you can perform is the following: you've used the correct word (affect, effect) if you can replace "affect" with "influence" and "effect" with "execute." For example:

quote:
The two-party coalition executed the passage of the tax program, which will influence almost every tax-payer.

This test isn't infallible, but it will work in most circumstances.

And in answer to your question: You're correct.

Posted by Survivor (Member # 213) on :

Generally speaking, use 'affect' as a verb and 'effect' as a noun. If you stick to that, then you don't have to worry about the subsidiary meanings of either word.

Side question here, is this a story about Atlas or something?

Posted by GZ (Member # 1374) on :

Thanks all! Usually I don't have a problems with effect/affect, but this one struck me strange for some reason.

quote:
Side question here, is this a story about Atlas or something?

Actually, it isn't. The mountain holding is really only backstory, and has very little to do with the events of the story.