Should I use affect or effect?

effect

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_s...

The change in fuel costs had a major effect on the airline contracts.

The wet weather had a bad effect on the crops.

Generally, affect is used as an action verb. (The weather weather affected me.) Effect is the result of that action. (The weathe rhad an effect on me.)

Effect is correct in both cases.

Others have said this is because "affect" is a verb and "effect" is a noun. This claim is not quite true: either word can be used as a noun or as a verb, but the meanings of "affect" and "effect" in either case are distinct.

As nouns:

"effect" means "that which results from the action or properties of something or someone"

"affect" means "the manner in which one is inclined or disposed; the capacity for willing or desiring; a mental state, mood or emotion"

Since you are not discussing the psychological state of the airline contracts or the crops, "affect" is not appropriate in this context.

It's funny that the people who got it WRONG used a smart-a** answer in "Source". Maybe brain or college isn't always enough???

It's effect for both for the reasons people stated.

Affect= verb

Effect= noun

***Edit: Interesting BillyC! I had never heard "affect" used as a noun. but you're right. It can be used that way too. Most common are affect=verb, effect=noun. Affect=psychology, so not good for these sentences! You're right.

The change in fuel cost had a majoy effect on the airline contracts.

The wet weather had a bad affect on the crops.

effect for both

affect is the verb form, effect is the noun

"Don't let my being here affect your answer."

"the wet weather had a bad effect on the crops"

impression is a verb and result's a noun, commonly. shop in concepts it by 'the solar affected the properly results of the suntan lotion' or the different similar sentence. A previously E to shop in concepts which way round they bypass. So on your sentence, the note 'the' ability there's a noun to follow so the note you elect is 'result' of route there's a verb 'to result' intending to reason to take position and could thoroughly replace the that technique of a sentence 'the hot authorities affected the guidelines' (they replaced them) 'the hot authorities effected the guidelines' (they enforced those already there) ...quite serious in a criminal record

Anothe vote for effect

Both use effect.

Actually, you'd use "effect" in both cases.

the first answer should be EFFECT the second should be AFFECT