Mumsnet Talk

effect and affect. I have had it explained to me time after time but it doesn't stick. Anyone got a simple explanation

Effect is the noun, like practice.
Affect is the verb, like practise.

The cuts in NHS funding will affect your services.

The effect of the cuts in the NHS will be the service declining.

But you can effect a change (verb)
and talk about affect as a noun when talking about emotions.

But the first is quite formal and the second is very specialised.

I have to look it up Every. Single. Time. And then I still don't understand

It can be a verb as well: New systems development has effected new way of storing data of people suffering from...

This will affect people who suffer from....

The effect will be that people will get better health care.

Ooh, crap! I didn't realise there where two types of practice/se! I just thought practise was spelt wrong . So I'm guessing that the correct way would be:
"I have my own Dental Practice" and
"I'm going to University to practise medicine."
Is that right?!?

I understand the "less and fewer" and the "affect and effect".

The way I remember practice and practise is to think of advice and advise as at least those sound different as well.

Am never totally secure on effect and affect. Am fine with the main usage of effect (noun) and affect (verb) but come a little unstuck after that.

The way I remember practice/practise is practise is a silly verb. It seems to work for me. Still struggling with affect and effect though.

I understand all of the above, but remember an old colleague of mine (KS2 teacher) complaining that the 'youth of today' didn't know the difference between 'owing to' and 'due to' and I didn't say anything because I had no idea what the difference was!

Can anyone enlighten me? I have googled, but it really is no clearer...!