Affect or Effect?

Well, it's been a while, blogger community. I just haven't felt like writing since November of last year - Just one of those periods in life when creativity/positivity isn't at its best, and therefore the need to express drops in step.

Lynne Truss has written a great read on grammar, and its evolution in the world in the recent past - Eats, Shoots & Leaves (think panda). It's truly entertaining, rather than just being a boring book on rules, and those grammar cop readers of this post will know I took more entertainment than learning from it, as I'm sure I have errors throughout.

Ms Truss' book hits upon an often confused pair of similarly pronounced words - Effect and Affect. There are actually five different uses across effect/affect, but just two definitions, both in a verb context, have recently been swirling around my cranium as different events and opportunities pop up.

So, for those that needed to look it up, as I did:
Effect (v): bring about; accomplish; make happen
Affect (v): to act on;

After learning the true delineation between the words, I found myself applying each silently as I made decisions and found situations where they applied. Yep, you guessed it, I'm a learn-by-association/context type.

Moving on - some examples...
I recently attended a church service where I saw many people who listened to a presentation by a missionary. Many of the congregation felt compelled to affect the mission through a donation. One felt the need to effect the mission through volunteering to participate.

Another instance came round with a woman who had fallen from a wave runner and couldn't get back on. Many boaters passing felt affect, and spoke of her trouble with some intent on assistance. One boater passing felt effect and as a result effected change - he helped the woman to safety.

I find it amusing that these words sound nearly identical, and in many contexts have the opposite meaning. I'll admit it..double entendres entertain me more than most. Anyway, the point of this post is this: Live an engaged life. Take the opportunities presented. Stand up for what's right. Let your life's story be written with Effect in lieu of Affect.

Ps. Ironically, the alternate definition of "Affect" as a verb is "to pretend".