affect/effect

This troublesome twosome attracts constant attention.

Once again, the short vowel sounds require clarity when speaking in order to achieve accurate understanding and reduce distractions.

In writing, they are regularly confused even though their meanings differ significantly 

Here are some insights to help you apply them with confidence to your spoken and written communication:

In one instance, 'affect', a verb, means 'to be influenced by'.  In most contexts it carries the the inference of a negative impact.  For example: 'When the weather affects crops, market prices can fluctuate wildly.'

In relation to people, the use of 'affect' arises in the context of emotional impact and change.  For example: 'As her student and protege, he was deeply affected by her death.' 

As a verb, 'affect' can also mean 'to put on, immitate or assume' as in 'In a bid to make an impression, some aspiring leaders affect the speech and mannerisms of their admired role-models.'

'Affect' arises from the Latin afficiere which means 'to act upon'.

For the sake of clarity and understanding make sure that the first sound in affect is the sound in apple, hat and fact.

In contrast, 'effect' serves as a noun or as a verb.  The meaning carries either of the following:

• a result or outcome that is produced by a cause or an agent as in 'The effect of sunburn on the skin can ruin a summer holiday.'

• the power or ability to influence or produce a result as in 'By collaborating on the project, we effected a rise in sales of 20%.'

'Effect' arises from the Latin efficiere which means 'to accomplish'.

For the sake of clarity and understanding make sure that the first sound in effect is the sound in egg, leg and bed.

Incompetent

There are many examples of words that carry the negative within their construction.  By adding a prefix (in this case 'in') to the word 'competent', the positive becomes negative.

Other examples of the prefix in are - 'inaccurate', 'ineligible' and 'intolerant'.

As a competent speaker of English examine your dictionary's entries for 'in'.  You'll be surprised at the length of the list.  You'll find new words for crosswords and Scrabble.  And you'll build your vocabulary.

If you are currently learning English,have a look at the dictionary entries for 'in'.  Do this for a few minutes at a time. Note those words that you hear often. Gather a few that are less familiar to you. Return to the reference. Look out for any analyses in your reference.  And remember that not all words beginning with 'in' imply the negative. Seek out those and expand your vocabulary.

There are additional prefixes used in English.  I'll be writing more on this topic in future posts.

imminent/eminent

Oh dear!  Words like these pose a challenge to speakers and writers.  'Iimminent' and 'eminent' provide a splendid example.

Once, on a national radio service, I heard a broadcaster speak of an 'eminent' thunderstorm.

Of course he meant 'imminent'; but a slip of tongue shifted the vowel sound.  The result was a highly amusing mental picture of a thunderstorm, dressed in the regal robes of office, bearing down on my home town.

To be sure:

• 'immiment' means 'about to happen'.  I learnt to remember 'imminent' by associating it with 'immediate'.

•  'eminent' means 'important' or 'holding status'; this was taught to me, and remembered by aligning 'emiment' with 'emperor'