I have a background that includes both writing training manuals and transcribing medical reports. Each requires correct usage of words, and your understanding and usage are correct.
My rule of thumb is if you can replace the word with "infect" and the sentence still makes grammatical sense, then it should be "affect" rather than "effect".
Effected or affected?
I have a background that includes both writing training manuals and transcribing medical reports. Each requires correct usage of words, and your understanding and usage are correct.
In your examples you are not using 'effect' as a verb. Its rarely used that way these days.
effect: to cause or come unto being.
ie: This policy change will effect a 15% increase in productivity.
'affect' as a verb doesn't require the subject to be you personally. It can be used used synonymous with 'influence'
ie. The amount of insulation in the attic affects the temperature in the house during both winter and summer.
This is the way.
I had a prof who said:
Remember VANE:
If it’s a verb, use Affect; if it’s a noun, use Effect.
That said, I still don’t think I always get it right.
Effect is a noun...I remember it by saying thE Effect. Notice the e's. Affect is a verb as in something Affected Another...notice the a's.
Effects are things, Affects are Actions. Easy to remember.
The mysteries of grammar elude me.
R...
A...ffect
V...erb
E...ffect
N...oun
My rule of thumb is if you can replace the word with "infect" and the sentence still makes grammatical sense, then it should be "affect" rather than "effect".