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Subject:Ensuring the effect is not affected? From:Geoff Hart <ghart -at- videotron -dot- ca> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com> Date:Fri, 18 Mar 2005 12:34:54 -0500
Mandy wondered: <<I'm pretty sure I know how to use "that" and "which"
properly, which is an accomplishment in itself.>>
And one with many exceptions. "That which does not kill us makes us
stronger". Using the restrictive "that" and the nonrestrictive "which"
is now considered good style, but that's a fairly recent stylistic
choice and not one you can rely on the modern reader to recognize. Rely
on context and punctuation to help make the meaning clear.
<<But I can never remember when to use effect and when to use affect...
does anyone have a good mnemonic or other handy way of remembering?>>
If you are affected by something (not "effected"), then surely that
something affects (not "effects") you.
<<I know that effect is nearly always a noun, except when it isn't, and
affect is a verb, except for when it's not.>>
If you're writing in a somewhat older (not necessarily old-fashioned)
style, you could certainly effect (bring about) a change. And if you
are writing as a psychologist, your emotional reaction to this problem
would demonstrate clearly that you do not lack for affect. Other than
those situations, it shouldn't really be an issue,
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