MineralMan's Visual Guide to Commonly Misspelled Words: Issue 4

[MineralMan]

This Guide is designed to show the difference between Affect and Effect. These two words are virtual homophones, but are not so simple to use correctly, since they have more than one meaning. Let's see if we can sort it all out.

Here are the previous issues in reverse order:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1481332
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1480103
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1479832

Normally, affect is used as a verb, while effect is used as a noun. You can see this below:



However, affect may also be used as a noun, but with a different meaning entirely. When used this way, the emphasis is on the first syllable:

Psychologically, your affect reflects the typical state of your mood. A flat affect, for example, is often illustrated like this:



Effect can be used as a verb. In that use, it means "to make," "to render," or "to create." For example, one may effect repairs to a faulty device.

It will be very difficult to effect repairs on this ship:

[Cirque du So-What]

1. I have a feeling...

that these two words are gonna continue to be a sticking point for lots of people - even after your very good examples. It's one of those word pairs I see used incorrectly - over time - most often.

[MineralMan]

3. Oh, I'm sure you're right. In most cases, I think it's a matter

of typing too quickly and not proofreading before posting. I don't think its so much a matter of misunderstanding, as with affect and effect.

[Scuba]

19. I'm sure your write.

[MineralMan]

24. Indeed.

[CTyankee]

26. I do this and it annoys me greatly. On my Challenge thread I made two references to an artist's

"palate" before I realized, to my horror, what I had done. People were kind not to correct me, but I felt pretty foolish (I wish someone HAD corrected me before I made the error a second time!). Grrr!

[MineralMan]

27. Well, every artist does have a palate, but not all artists

have a palette. Sort of a squares and rectangles kind of thing in speech.

[CTyankee]

28. Oh, I think every artist has a palette...it's only a favorite set of color tones.

Now, whether or not they sleep on a pallet...well, that's another question...

[MineralMan]

32. An artist may also be a sculptor, in which case a palette is

not needed. I love words. But, sleeping on a pallet is very uncomfortable, I'd think, whatever sort of artist one might be.

[CTyankee]

39. With a sculptor you are right. But I have to disagree just a bit on "pallet."

It's probably a regionalism, but my parents, both Texans and with Southern roots, used to refer to a cot as a pallet. I realize that it is commonly known as a large tray for transporting heavy stuff. In Texas, before air conditioning was widespread we would take a pallet outside on hot, dry summer nights, sprinkle the sheets with cold water and fall asleep in nice, cool sheets. Don't try this in New York City or Florida.

[MineralMan]

40. Cool! I learned a new meaning for "pallet" today.

I suppose I have seen it used to mean bed before, but it had slipped my mind. I love words, and appreciate every new nuance of meaning. Thanks!

[CTyankee]

44. I love regionalisms in English (I teach ESL).

When I was little, I grew up saying "nigh unto" meaning "nearly." When I moved to the Northeast I never heard it. I think "nigh" is a wonderful word. Too bad we don't use it anymore...

[MineralMan]

46. I always heard that as "nigh unto," where I lived.

Yes, regionalisms are fascinating to learn and study. We live in such a diverse country. It's a pity to see many of the regional language difference disappearing, mainly due to the national media.

[CTyankee]

47. Right, I just edited my post. Are you in the South?

[MineralMan]

48. No, but my maternal grandparents were from Texas.

I've been to the South a lot, and we had lots of people from southern states in my home town.

The pronunciation of "unto" kind of blends with "onto" in some areas. I hear it a lot in Southern Baptist churches. Tiny variations in pronunciation are a real driver in spelling issues. I sort of minored in linguistics in college.

[CTyankee]

50. my paternal grandfather was a Southern Baptist minister!

He died soon after I was born, but my father used that expression and I heard it elsewhere. "Pert' near", "pure D," and "fur piece" were others, altho they were simply altered pronunciations (with the exception of "pure D" which meant something akin to "totally" today).

[MineralMan]

51. Cool. I recognize all of those expressions, for sure.

Language is amazing.

"Nigh" has its origins in England, and was used frequently in the King James Version of the Bible. That's probably why it became part of the speech in that area, where the Bible was the main tool used in teaching reading. Of course, "unto" is also a frequently encountered Biblical word, and "nigh unto" occurs 30 or 40 times in the King James Version, both in the Old and New Testaments.

[CTyankee]

53. So glad to encounter someone who knows those expressions!

One of the things I miss the most about my parents and so much of my family down in Texas being gone now is hearing their lovely accents. My mother, in particular, had a soft north Texas accent which I can hear in Bill Moyers speech...

[Karenina]

59. Language is indeed amazing!

So many opportunities for us to find common ground. You've indeed won my heart with this offering, MM. :loveya:

[dionysus]

2. kick

[immoderate]

4. I'm enjoying this alot.

Amn't I?

--imm

[immoderate]

62. Hey! I did this on purpose. It's my pet spelling peeve.

Nobody noticed! :cry:


--imm

[CrossChris]

5. Unrec'ed for elitism. Not all Democrats have the same educational background, or strengths.

The smartest man I know is an Astronomy professor who has a form of dyslexia that makes him reverse letters all the time.

Not every Democrat grew up speaking the King's English.

[snooper2]

7. Having a basic grasp of the English language is elitism

:rofl: :eyes: :rofl: :eyes:

[CrossChris]

30. Being pedantic about spelling and punctuation is, IMO. Some people learn differently.

Why shut out Dems who don't speak the King's English? There are lots of them.

[MineralMan]

34. Who's shutting anyone out here? Again, I have no authority on

DU, so I can't do anything even remotely resembling such a thing.

[snooper2]

37. How is anybody being shut out?

really?

jesus h. christ...It's just a fucking messageboard on the intertubes

[CrossChris]

45. Just playing devil's advocate. I hate pedantry on an informal message board. It's snobby, IMO.

I just have an opposing view on this, sorry.

[Quantess]

54. Show me what you call "elitism" and I'll show you a dumbing down of society.

I know that people who are lousy spellers are often very intelligent. I know several. I've had professors who have confessed they aren't the greatest at spelling.

Mineral Man is not trying to "shut out" anyone. He's just offering a little helpful assistance, for anyone who wants it. Maybe he's a teacher and he does this for his students. If you don't want/need spelling advice, then just click "BACK", and forget about it. You can lead a horse to water but nobody forces the horse to drink it, as the saying goes.

[MineralMan]

8. Thank you for your thoughtful criticism.

These little exercises are designed to be funny, you see. They're done for a laugh, not to criticize DUers. If you don't find them amusing, you may want to skip reading the ones that will follow. I'll leave that decision to you, of course.

[CrossChris]

29. It's a public board, I'll skip over what I want to. I don't want this board to shut out some Dems.

Some Democrats don't come from the same kinds of schools you or I might have had access to.

What to you may seem like a good natured ribbing, which I can appreciate, to someone else it may the thing that holds them back from expressing themselves on here.

[MineralMan]

33. Yes it is, which is why I qualified my statement to indicate

that you "may" want to skip the thread. You may not, too, and that's fine. I'll be happy to banter with you in this thread, if that's your pleasure.

I doubt anyone who's reading these threads is going to leave DU or not post because of them. DUers are made of sturdier stuff than that.

But, hey, you have your own mind and your own opinions, just like I do.

[snooper2]

38. hold them back from expressing themselves

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[DLnyc]

9. Recommended for democracy

Helping people to use a language better is a positive thing, not a negative, IMHO.

My Spanish is not that good, but I find hints and explanations about Spanish usage useful and enlightening, not insulting.

To each their own, I guess.

[DevonRex]

11. OMG.

:rofl:

[kick-ass-bob]

12. goddamn teachers.

fuck em all I say. Who needs em?

[CakeGrrl]

18. Why so overly sensitive?

I see these errors quite a bit. The difference between "they're" and "their" isn't a matter of dyslexia, nor is pointing out the difference an attack on those with the disorder.

No one is being called out or ridiculed.

[CrossChris]

31. I'm a three time spelling bee champ. I don't want to shut out people from a background who didn't

place the same emphasis on spelling as you or I might.

[MineralMan]

35. Congratulations on your championships.

That's very good. I lost my grammar school spelling bee by spelling a word using the British spelling. I had just been reading some British books and took the spelling from there. Oh, well. Somehow, I lived through the experience, and went on to make a living as a writer.

I still can't figure out how I'm shutting anyone out of anything. Maybe you can explain that to me.

[CrossChris]

42. Some people who have brilliant insights & valid concerns can't spell cat if you spot them the c & t

And I'm not accusing you of personally shutting anyone out. I just think that collectively, that kind of teasing is kind of like putting up a sign that says, "you must be this formally educated to post."

Again, the smartest person I know has a form of dyslexia that makes it extremely difficult to spell.

Some brilliant people I know spell things phonetically. So they often mistake they're for their, b/c their homophones. Those people are more auditory than visual. So it's kind of discouraging to auditory learners.

But I get that we want to be better than the "get a brain, Morans" guy. And that you're mildly joking. Just trying to take up for another side of the discussion.

[MineralMan]

43. Discussion is good. It's the humor of illustrating these common

errors that is my goal. I'm not calling anyone out or even referring to any particular thread or post. You've taken umbrage from these threads for some reason. That's OK with me, and I'll be happy to continue discussing it with you. :shrug:

[CrossChris]

49. Not umbrage, just giving another side. I know people that are intimidated from posting online b/c

of their learning disabilities, though they are brilliant thinkers.

No serious offense taken.

[Quantess]

57. I see your point. But I disagree with you.

I'll bet that some people have been too intimidated to post at the DU, because they are aware of their limitations in writing. But does that mean they have no choice but to stay silent and hide their genius? No, not at all. Even if they choose not to post here or on other internet message boards, they have other options of expressing their thoughts. Like, getting up to a podium to speak. Or expressing themselves in film, or art.

I would say that, on the contrary to what you are saying, bright people who have expressive writing difficulties do not need anyone's sympathy.

[FSogol]

22. You don't use a comma after... um, never mind.

:hi: Just kidding.

[lapislzi]

6. Loves me some MineralMan

Yup, I do.

[99 Percent Sure]

16. Me too. How can I not, especially when he is so

thoughtful that he even posts links to the previously posted--and missed--threads. Thank you and please keep posting these, MineralMan.

:yourock:

Rec'ed.

[slackmaster]

10. I'm handing out automatic Recs to MineralMan's entire series today

:hi:

[kick-ass-bob]

13. These should really be on your journal

:bounce::bounce:

[MineralMan]

14. What a capital idea!

[gkhouston]

20. And speaking of which... capital/capitol. n/t

[MineralMan]

23. On the list, for sure.

[dipsydoodle]

15. How about misuse of words up next.

and give imply and infer a whirl.

:hi:

[Major Hogwash]

36. Are you series? You can't get there from here.

He'll have to go through the whole shebang first.

[MineralMan]

41. And a big shebang it is, too.

Shebang is a wonderful word! Thanks for using it.

[Gemini Cat]

17. Thanks! I'm book marking this post for future reference.

k and r

[Lone_Star_Dem]

21. Excellent.

Thank you. :)

[socialist_n_TN]

25. I believe this is the one I have the MOST trouble with

I think I usually get it right, but I have to think about it every time. It affects my self esteem as a writer. :)

[Quantess]

52. FOUR issues, now?

We get an issue every hour on the hour.

I'm lucky to have a natural ability at spelling. I made it to 4th place in the county spelling bee, for 12-13 year old group. I misspelled "lethargic", only because I had no idea what it was or what it meant, at the time. I'll never forget the one word I didn't how to spell!

[mrmpa]

55. Whenever possible I avoid using these words...eom

[Buns_of_Fire]

56. That's been my general rule for this pair. So far, so good... nt

[Rex]

58. Don't know if you already have done so

but you might want to give people a primer on the words 'loose' and 'lose', I see them getting mixed up all the time around here.

[stubtoe]

60. I LOVE these, MineralMan. Please keep 'em coming!

[Liberal_in_LA]

61. k&r