Editly Etymology: affect vs effect

The copyediting experts at Editly have become masters of commonly confused words over the course of their careers as editors, proofreaders, and rewriters. In Editly Etymology, they tap into their own experience to offer a closer look into the horrifying beauty of the English language. This installment investigates one of the most confused word pairs out there: effect vs affect.

Affect Definition

Affect is a verb that means to influence or to impact. In the picture above, the rain affects the apple tree and causes apples to grow.

Effect Definition

Effect is a noun that means a result or an outcome (of a cause). In the picture above, the effect of the rain is the growth of the apples.

Did you catch that? Let’s ask AI to help us generate a visual representation of each of the words to help drive home the difference between affect and effect.

Affect = to influence

This sun positively affects the land and the production of oxygen, even as it negatively affects my mood and production of oxygen.

Effect = a result

The effect of one domino falling is the next also falling, as well as, apparently, mysterious curvatures of light.

Etymology Root

Late Middle English: from French or from Latin.

Effect Root

Late Middle English: from Old French or from Latin.

Who is to Blame for this Confusion?

Seeing these very similar backgrounds, it’s hard to pinpoint here. It seems that the French and the Old French may both be equally responsible — or not. So, let’s agree to split the difference and blame the Middle French.

AI Text on Affect

The history of the word “affect” reveals its rich etymological background and evolution over time. Originating from Latin, “affect” has been influenced by multiple languages and has acquired various meanings throughout its history.

1. Latin Origins: The word “affect” comes from the Latin verb “afficere,” which means “to do something to, to influence” and was formed from “ad-” (to) + “facere” (to do, make). “Afficere” itself carried a range of meanings, including to affect, influence, or touch emotionally. Its past participle, “affectus,” led to the English noun “affect,” referring to emotional states, and the verb “affect,” meaning to influence or to pretend to have a quality.
2. Middle English Introduction: “Affect” entered the English language during the Middle English period, brought in by scholars and clerics who were well-versed in Latin. During this time, it retained its Latin meanings of influencing or impacting something and started to be used in more specific contexts, including the expression of emotion.
3. Evolution Over Time: As English evolved, so did the usage of “affect.” By the Renaissance, it was used in psychological contexts to describe emotional states, a usage that continues in some fields today. The verb’s meaning of pretending or assuming a behavior or attitude (not genuinely felt) also developed over time.
4. Modern Usage: Today, “affect” is primarily used as a verb meaning to influence something or someone. Its usage spans a wide array of disciplines, from psychology (where “affect” as a noun describes an observed experience of feeling or emotion) to environmental science and beyond. The distinct meaning of pretending or affecting an attitude is less commonly encountered but remains an integral part of the word’s semantic range.

The history of “affect” is a testament to the dynamic nature of language, illustrating how words can travel through time, adapting and acquiring new meanings while retaining their etymological roots. (308 words)

Humanization of AI Text on Affect

The history of “affect” reveals its rich etymological background and evolution. Originating from Latin, “affect” has been influenced and acquired various meanings via multiple languages.

1. Latin Origins: “Affect” comes from the Latin verb “afficere,” meaning “to do something to, to influence” and formed from “ad-” (to) + “facere” (to do, make). “Afficere” itself ranged in meaning from affect and influence to touch emotionally. Its past participle, “affectus,” led to the English noun “affect” (emotional state) and the verb “affect” (to influence or pretend to have).
2. Middle English Introduction: “Affect” entered Middle English period through scholars and clerics well-versed in Latin. During this time, it retained its Latin meanings of influencing or impacting, as well as the expression of emotion, in more specific contexts.
3. Evolution Over Time: As English evolved, so did the usage of “affect.” By the Renaissance, it had acquired utilization in psychological contexts to describe emotional states, one that continues in some fields today. The verb’s meaning of pretending or assuming a behavior or attitude also developed over time.
4. Modern Usage: Today, “affect” is primarily used as a verb meaning to influence. Its usage spans many disciplines from psychology (as a noun to describe an observed experience of feeling or emotion) to environmental science. Less commonly encountered, but still important, is the distinct meaning of pretending or affecting an attitude.

The history of “affect” is a testament to how words can travel through time, adapting and acquiring new meanings, while retaining their etymological roots. (250 words)

Effects of Humanization

Humanization has affected the AI text significantly, making it more concise through better diction and the elimination of repetition. One shortcut that can measure the effect of AI text humanization is purely mathematical. In this case, humanization reduced the word count from 308 words to 250 words — or nearly 19 percent.

AI Text on Effect

The history of the word “effect” offers a glimpse into its etymological journey and how its meanings have developed over time. Like many English words, “effect” has its roots in Latin, and its journey through history reflects changes in usage and meaning.

1. Latin Origins: The word “effect” comes from the Latin word “effectus,” which is the past participle of “efficere,” meaning “to accomplish, make, or do.” The root of “efficere” combines “ex-” (out) with “facere” (to do, make), literally translating to “to bring out” or “to accomplish.” “Effectus” in Latin signified accomplishment, execution, result, or effect, closely aligning with its contemporary English meanings.
2. Introduction to English: “Effect” entered the English language in the Middle English period, primarily through Old French. The word retained its Latin sense of a result or outcome of an action. This period in English history saw a significant influx of Latin and French words, enriching the vocabulary, especially in the realms of law, religion, and scholarship.
3. Evolution Over Time: Throughout its history in English, “effect” has maintained its core meaning related to producing a result or being the consequence of an action. However, its application and nuances have broadened. “Effect” can denote something brought about by a cause, the power to produce outcomes, or the impression something gives.
4. Modern Usage: In contemporary English, “effect” is predominantly used as a noun, referring to a change that has occurred as a result of an action or other cause. It is widely employed in various contexts, from physical phenomena (the effects of gravity) to psychological and social outcomes (the effects of a policy). The phrase “special effects” in the context of movies and entertainment highlights a more specific and modern application of the word.
5. Related Forms and Phrases: The versatility of “effect” is also evident in its use within phrases like “in effect” (meaning operational or in force), “take effect” (to begin to produce results), and “effect change” (using “effect” as a verb, meaning to cause change to happen), showcasing its dynamic role in the language.

The history of “effect” underscores the stability of certain core meanings over time, even as the word’s usage expands and adapts to new contexts. It exemplifies the enduring legacy of Latin on the English language and illustrates how historical and linguistic evolutions shape the words we use today. (390 words)

Humanization of AI Text on Effect

The history of “effect” traces its etymological journey and its evolving meanings. Like many other English words, it has its roots in Latin.

1. Latin Origins: The word “effect” comes from the Latin word “effectus,” the past participle of “efficere” (to accomplish, make, or do.) The root of “efficere” combines “ex-” (out) with “facere” (to do, make), literally translating to “to bring out” or “to accomplish.” “Effectus” in Latin signified accomplishment, execution, or effect.
2. Introduction to English: “Effect” entered Middle English primarily through Old French. The word retained its Latin sense of a result or outcome.
3. Evolution Over Time: Throughout its history in English, “effect” has maintained its core meaning. However, its application and nuances have broadened. Indeed, “effect” can now denote the consequence of a cause, the power to produce outcomes, or impression.
4. Modern Usage: “Effect” is predominantly used as a noun. It is employed in various contexts, from physical phenomena (the effects of gravity) to psychological and social outcomes (the effects of a policy). The phrase “special effects” in the context of movies highlights a more specific and modern application.
5. Related Forms and Phrases: Its versatility remains evident in phrases like “in effect” (meaning operational or in force), “take effect” (to begin to produce results), and “effect change” (as a verb, meaning to cause change to happen).

The history of “effect” underscores the stability of its core meanings over time, even as its usage expanded and adapted to new contexts. (246 words)

Effect of Humanizing the AI Text

The effect of humanization on the AI text is remarkable, bringing the text down from 390 words to 246 words — or a 37% reduction. This humanization work retained the original meaning, while making the text more readable, more focused, and more dynamic.

Whether it’s for affect or effect, the best AI humanizer does, in fact, turn out to be a human. So, if you need any help to humanize your AI text, don’t wait to get started on Editly.