EFFECT

Synonyms: effect, consequence, result, outcome, upshot, sequel

These nouns denote an occurrence, situation, or condition that is caused by an antecedent. An effect is produced by the action of an agent or a cause and follows it in time: “Every cause produces more than one effect” (Herbert Spencer). A consequence has a less sharply definable relationship to its cause: “Servitude is at once the consequence of his crime and the punishment of his guilt” (John P. Curran). A result is viewed as the end product of the operation of the cause: “Judging from the results I have seen... I cannot say... that I agree with you” (William H. Mallock). An outcome more strongly implies finality and may suggest the operation of a cause over a relatively long period: The trial's outcome might have changed if the defendant had testified. An upshot is a decisive result, often of the nature of a climax: “The upshot of the matter... was that she showed both of them the door” (Robert Louis Stevenson). A sequel is a consequence that ensues after a lapse of time: “Our dreams are the sequel of our waking knowledge” (Ralph Waldo Emerson).

AFFECT

Synonyms: affect, 1influence, impress, 1touch, move, strike

These verbs mean to produce a mental or emotional effect. To affect is to act upon a person's emotions: Adverse criticism of the book didn't affect the author. Influence implies some control over the thinking, actions, and emotions of another: “Humanity is profoundly influenced by what you do” (Pope John Paul II). To impress is to produce a marked, often enduring effect: “The Tibetan landscape particularly impressed him” (Doris Kerns Quinn). Touch usually means to arouse a tender response: “The tributes [to the two deceased musicians] were fitting and touching” (Daniel Cariaga). Move suggests a profound emotional effect: The account of her experiences moved us to tears. Strike implies keenness or force of mental response: I was struck by the sudden change in his appearance.

Usage Note: Affect and effect have no senses in common. As a verb affect is most commonly used in the sense of “to influence” (how smoking affects health). Effect means “to bring about or execute”: layoffs designed to effect savings. Thus the sentence These measures may affect savings could imply that the measures may reduce savings that have already been realized, whereas These measures may effect savings implies that the measures will cause new savings to come about.

I cannot get this down for the life of me.

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