affect: (verb) to alter; to change; to make a difference to; to sway the emotions of; (noun) facial expressions, gestures, vocal sounds that display emotion, often insincerely
effect: (noun) end result; consequence; change resulting from an action or other cause; used in the term “special effects”; (verb) to cause something to
happen; usually used in the expression “to effect change”
This is by far the muddle I get asked about most. If you join the Monday Muddle email list, you will get a full page explanation of this that includes examples, memory tricks, and an explanation of when you need a noun and when you need a verb.
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