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Extra
Help on Affect/Effect and Principle/Principal
Confused about the difference between Affect and Effect?
First, read the sentence with either the word “result” or
“outcome” in the affect/effect
location. If either “result” or
“outcome” reads well and sounds correct, use effect. If “result” or “outcome” does not make sense in that
location, use affect.
Try it here in the sample sentences that follow:
I am not sure what
the (affect, effect) will be.
Test with “result” or “outcome” and you get . . .
I am not sure what
the (result) will be or
I am not sure what the (outcome) will
be. At least one of these
substitute words makes a sensible sentence, right? So choose effect.
I am not sure what
the effect will be.
Now try this sentence:
His attitude will
(affect, effect) the whole group.
Test with “result” or “outcome” and you get . . .
His attitude will (result)
the whole group or His attitude will (outcome) the whole group.
Neither” result” or “outcome” works well, so choose affect.
His attitude will affect the whole group.
Here is more help:
If you will add an “ed”
to the end of the word, affected is most likely the correct
choice.
But, if you will add “ive”
to the end of the word, use effective. Also use effect in the phrases “into effect” or ‘the
effect.”
(Grammar explanation:
Remember that “affect(ed)” is most
often a verb—it is the action of the subject—as in “The weather affected
my mood.” However, “effect”
is most often a noun and has “the” or “an”
somewhere in front of it. “My words
had a wonderful effect on Bruce” or “I wonder what will be the effect on us?”)
On to principal or principle.
This pair is easy if you take the time to test.
First, remember that principal
has two uses: a word meaning “most important” or “main”
AND the head of a school.
Test with this one first. Does “most important” or “main” read well
in the sentence location?
Try this practice sentence:
The (principle,
principal) reason I am attending SCC is to better myself.
Now use the substitute test words:
The (most
important) reason I am attending SCC is to better myself.
or
The (main) reason
I am attending SCC is to better myself.
Either substitute word makes sense, so use principal.
But don’t stop here!
Now apply this second test:
Do you mean the head of a school?—if so, also use principal.
I talked with the principal of the school.
Another way to remember the difference is this: principle
ONLY means a “rule” or a “law” or a “concept.”
Try these sentences:
I am taking Principles of Economics.
(“Concepts” of Economics makes sense).
Or
That decision violates my principles (my “rules” makes sense).
______
WORDS-OFTEN-CONFUSED
1.
(Principles, Principals) of Economics 101 is a difficult but
interesting (course, coarse).
2. Sunday’s speech had a positive (effect, affect) on all who
listened. I didn’t (know, no) it
would be so uplifting.
3.
All of us were (affected, effected) by the magic spell (accept, except)
Karen who was (a, an) hour late.
4. I was (all ready, already) asleep when you came in.
5. Is this (your, you’re) horse? Well, (who’s,
whose) horse is it?
6. The number of students (hear, here) is greater (than, then) we could hoped
for.
7. (It’s, Its) (to, too, two) (quiet, quite)
(here, hear).
8. (They're, Their, There) were
(fewer, less) complaints about the (weather, whether, wheather).
9. I think I (past,
passed) the test, but I forgot many of the (principles, principals) taught.
10. (Its, It's) (to, two, too) bad you
didn't (no, know) the answer.
11.
What (principles, principals) do you live by, and what is your (principle,
principal) reason for being in school.
12. I thought I would (lose, loose) my mind trying to decide
(who’s, whose) offer to (accept, except).
13. I bought (a, an) apple about (a, an)
hour before class.
14. (They're,
Their, There) friends want us to come (they're, their, there) to visit.
15. The (principal, principle) reason I loved this course was
the (affect, effect) it had on my friends and (they're, their, there)
attitudes.
16. (You’re, Your) the
one I want (to, too) go with me. I
need to fix my car’s (breaks, brakes).
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