Not to understand the difference between affect and effect?

[Tinseltower]

I looked up the definitions and still none the wiser. Been in a school revision site and still don’t get it! What is wrong with me! If anyone can explain to me very simply and with examples I’d really appreciate it!

What about have/has in speech hungry?

No, The Oatmeal is OK but doesn't deal with 'effect' as a verb.

Plenty more fun to be had here.

Re "affect" as a noun. If you hear/see this you are either (a) getting paid to write a report or (b) wanting to be somewhere else.

But it's an effective way to know that you've entered jargonland :)

"No, The Oatmeal is OK but doesn't deal with 'effect' as a verb.

Plenty more fun to be had here. grin"

Thank god for that.

I love 'affect' (n). Reminds me of many happy hours as an undergraduate reading Lacan (and those inspired by him).

Or (c) a student.

So Lacan is to blame for that jargon then? I should have guessed....

This gave me panic as I thought I had used it wrongly on a thread seeing that my posts where full of "affects" rather than "effects. I had to dash and have re-read. Phew!

effect can also be a verb - as in "to effect change" meaning to bring about/make/implement

IMO,

to effect = to accomplish
to affect = to influence / change
the effect = the nature of the change

examples:
Mumsnet has affected me greatly. I now know the difference between a vagina and a vulva.

The effect that Mumsnet has had on my anatomical knowledge has been mind-blowing.

Little by little Mumsnet will effect change across the whole of Britain as more and more women discover the inner workings of their fanjos.

@idontlikealdi “effecting change” is grammatically correct. A person can effect change. Trust me

Argh. As someone already said, it really doesn't help OP if people pile in with advice which is factually wrong.

It is not wrong to speak of effecting change - it's a very common expression and grammatically sound. Echt is right: both affect and effect can be noun or verb.

You can totally "effect change".

You can effect a change, a cure, a repair, a sale.

To remember practise/practice I think of the phrase "the crocodile smiles" - the 'c' is the noun (crocodile) and the 's' is the verb (smiles)

Nobody seems to believe me when I say we did zero grammar at junior school in the eighties.

Sadly, I believe you. I am still amazed at what some of my children don't know.

Re "affect" as a noun. If you hear/see this you are either (a) getting paid to write a report or (b) wanting to be somewhere else.

or a medic reporting on a patient. It is actually a good noun imo - a decent word describing a complex thing neatly (effectively?) in one word.

No grammar taught here either ( 80s) which made foreign languages harder than they should be.
The moon has an effect on tides.
Tides are affected by the moon.
But you could also say that the other way round......

A disease affects your body.
The effect of the disease is that you are vomiting.

I don't even remember learning grammar back at primary school in the early 00s.

Just found this too, e.g. reversing them:

-- But both words have other meanings as well. "Affect" can be a noun meaning "display of emotion".
'The killer displayed no affect when shown photos of his victims.'
This is a rather technical word, used by psychologists but not by most people. (It's also where we get the word "affectionate.")

And to answer Betty's question, "effect" can be a verb meaning "to bring about," "to cause," or "to achieve".
"He effected his escape with knotted bedsheets." "You will effect these changes on Monday." --

Practice/practise
Advice/advise

ICE (frozen water) is a thing, therefore the noun.

We did no grammar in the 70s either. I've got my understanding from reading.
Advise/advice as a verb/noun rule works. I give advice. I have a licence. We do best practice. I will advise you/The DVLA license me to drive/I will practise feedback.
I do think the rule for affect and effect should be the Facebook rule. People say 'Doesn't effect use'. That's wrong. Doesn't affect use is correct.

Affect is the Action
Effect is the End result

Sorry you asked for examples too.

My new shoes affect my feet badly. The effects were two new blisters.

Affect was the action (wearing new shoes)
Effect was the end result (two blisters)

I hope that helps

Re: practice/practise and advice/advise

I use the sentence: Get some ice when you exercise

ice (noun, an object), exercise (verb, something you do)

Affect is the Action
Effect is the End result

Clearest explanation.