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s/effect/affect


I like finding cases where both effect and affect are interchangeable, as in they create logical sentences but with different meanings.

> effect (verb): cause (something) to happen; bring about.

"It [the union] doesn't just effect cereal. It also effects Jimmy Dean breakfast bowls."

I'll give this one a C-.


I think this definition of 'effect' as a verb has some extra nuance in real usage that isn't entirely captured by the dictionary definition.

Generally you'll see it used as "[actor] effects [intangible/ephemeral noun]", rather than "[actor] effects [physical object noun]". "Trees effect oranges." would generally not be considered proper English, despite meeting the dictionary definition.

Sometimes it's important to use the most(-ly) correct word, rather than merely a correct word. In both cases, "produce" would work much better: "Trees produce oranges". "It [the union] doesn't just produce cereal. It also produces Jimmy Dean breakfast bowls."

produce (verb): make or manufacture from components or raw materials.

I agree with the C- though! It's certainly not entirely wrong. And a really fun opportunity to talk about effect as a verb!


More commonly, effect is used as a noun while affect is used as a verb.


That's the challenge.




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