If You Affect Something, the Effect Can Be Surprising

A lot of writers seem to have difficulty wrapping their heads around the whole affect/effect thing. Both can be verbs and both can be nouns, but they are not interchangeable. The uses for these words are many. I'm providing only the ones that seem to cause the most problems for fiction writers.

affect
verb - to alter; to act on something; to bring about change in something
         
effect
verb - to cause; to bring about something; to make something happen
noun - result; something that is produced by a cause

So...

I can effect an effect (bring it about).
I can affect an effect (change it).

There are subtle elements at play but, to keep it simple, it will help to remember:

• the 'A' word is about Altering something; and
• the 'E' word is all about an End Result and how you get there.

Grammar Girl ably takes on the affect/effect topic here.