View Full Version : Then Vs. Than
ethics
08-04-2007, 10:33 PM
One thing I see a lot here is using then when you mean "greater/less" THAN.
Than should be used only when you are comparing two or more things. Like, my brother is younger but bigger than I. Then is used with descriptions of time.
SixofNine
08-04-2007, 10:42 PM
That's the easy thing for me to remember: "then" = time.
ethics
08-04-2007, 10:43 PM
Thanks. I was searching for an easy memory trick. The above works great.
Violet1966
08-04-2007, 11:36 PM
I'm notorious for not using than where I should. Great tip to remember thanks! Then=time. Should be easy enough to remember it that way. :)
Piobaireachd
08-05-2007, 01:04 AM
One that screws me up all the time is effect and affect.
joseftu
08-05-2007, 12:51 PM
Effect is a noun. Affect is a verb (except when it's a noun--usually in psychology--"flatness of affect").
But that probably doesn't help much!
ethics
08-05-2007, 12:57 PM
One that screws me up all the time is effect and affect.
This was a huge sticking difference for me as well.
The only thing that got it "fixed" for me is thinking thus:
Affect is to influence, to change, to manipulate.
Effect is a result. Grammargirl has a great article (http://grammar.qdnow.com/2006/10/07/affect-versus-effect.aspx) on this as well as cartoon:
http://img359.imageshack.us/img359/1832/aardvarkgrammar4insb2.png
But Joe's statement of:Effect is a noun. Affect is a verb
Explains it all for me.
cmhbob
08-05-2007, 01:30 PM
Effect can be a verb, as in "to effect a change in circumstances." Not common, and many people would "correct" you, but it's out there.
Nice visual.
joseftu
08-05-2007, 01:45 PM
Good catch, Bob.
So effect is a noun, except when it's a verb, and affect is a verb, except when it's a noun.
Oy!
cmhbob
08-05-2007, 01:52 PM
Yeah, you can effect a change against something that's been affected by an effect. But you wouldn't be very effective in your show of affection.
ravital
08-06-2007, 11:51 AM
Yeah, you can effect a change against something that's been affected by an effect. But you wouldn't be very effective in your show of affection.
Thank you so much, I've wanted to explain that for a long time :clap:
SixofNine
08-06-2007, 12:00 PM
In the world of autism and related communities there is a noun form of "affect," as in feeling or emotion, especially expressed by facial expression or body language.
I'm worried that my son might be autistic, he doesn't show any affect.