Affect/Effect
Generally, you use “affect” as a verb and “effect” as a noun. Here is an example:
The news affected Eric profoundly.
The effect on him was amazing.
There is a simple mnemonic to remember this: “A Very Easy Noun.” The first letters of each word stand for “Affect Verb, Effect Noun.” That may help you.
Just to confuse matters, though, “affect” can be used as a noun. This usage is used almost solely in psychology, and it means “mood”:
The patient has a happy affect.
Unsurprisingly, because grammar is a cruel mistress, “effect” can also be used as a verb. In this usage, it means “to make happen.”
The grammar handbook effected a change in her writing.
If you are uncertain, though, simply use Affect as a verb and Effect as a noun.
As such
“As such” means, “Because it is this thing.” Please note that it does not mean “Because of this.” Nor does it mean anything else. Here is an example of correct usage:
The house is a mansion. As such, it is big.
A while
“A while” is a noun; “awhile” is an adverb. Almost always, people mean “a while,” but they use “awhile.” Here is the difference:
I slept for a while before dinner. (noun, meaning, “a bit of time”)
I slept awhile before dinner (notice that here it’s the equivalent of “deeply”)
The two are difficult and tricky to differentiate. Just remember that if it has a preposition in front of it (for, but, and…) you want “a while.”
Famously
This is an adverb meaning “in a famous manner.” The way that it has come to be used is incorrect:
Common Use: Martin is famously difficult.
Translation: Martin is difficult in a famous way.
If you want to be strictly correct, you should actually say this:
Martin is famous for being difficult.
Martin is well known to be difficult.
However, this is one of those situations in which it just may not be worth it to go against the flow. If you prefer to use it in the way everyone recognises, you might just as well. No one but you and I will ever know it’s wrong.
Firstly
The thing about “firstly” is that it leads to “secondly,” and thence to “thirdly.” Which is to say, if you’re going to use “firstly,” you must follow through and stick an “ly” on the end of all your other numbers, too.
In addition, “firstly” actually means, “in a first-like manner,” and “in a first-like manner” really just means: “first.” So why not just use “first”?
Following
“Following” means “that comes next in this discussion/essay/dialogue.” Thus, when you write, “The paragraph following,” you mean “The paragraph I am about to write.” If what you mean to say is, “the item that comes next in the item I am discussing,” you should use that phrase “that follows.”
HOW and THAT
“How” means “the way in which.” “That” means “the fact that.”
If you write “The poem shows how people are unhappy”
you mean “The poem shows the way in which people are unhappy”
If you write “The poem shows that people are unhappy”
you mean “The poem shows the fact that people are unhappy.”
People almost always use “how” incorrectly. Be careful!
Hung
This form is only for pictures and other objects. People are “hanged.” Simply remember this phrase: Pictures are hung; people are hanged.
Like and As if
“Like” means “similar to.” Always be sure you are using it that way:
He wants to be a ballet dancer like Nureyev.
This means, “He wants to be a ballet dancer similar to Nureyev” (i.e., of the same type as Nureyev).
When we speak, we often use “like” as a substitute for “as if” or “as.” In writing, this should not happen.
Incorrect: The plan seemed like it might fail.
Correct: The plan seemed as if it might fail.
Incorrect: However, it succeeded, like we hoped.
Correct: However, it succeeded, as we hoped.
Partake/Take Part
You partake of; you take part in. If you’re not using them that way, you’re using ’em wrong.
Reference
The verb “reference” means only “to provide an item with sources.” If you want to say that someone alludes to something, you want “REFER.” If you are trying to say, “as I already quoted/mentioned above,” you want to say, “As referred to above.”
Quote and Quotation
“Quote” is a verb. “Quotation” is the noun form. Anything from another author that you put in your essay is thus a quotation; it is something you quote. There is a very easy way to remember this: simply remember that You quote a quotation.
So
My father (remember him?) says there’s always a better word than “so.” This is not always true – the “so” that means “as a result” is sometimes very useful, for instance. However, it is true that writers frequently misuse “so.” Remember that if you use “so” as an intensifier for an adjective (“He is so tall”), you must follow the adjective with “that” and a descriptive phrase:
He is so tall that he can touch the ceiling.
This is because “so tall” doesn’t really mean anything. How is it different from just tall? If you don’t want to add a “that” phrase, you can always substitute in a more vivid adjective:
gigantic
He is so tall.
Who and That
If you are talking about a person or people, use “who.” People are always “who.” If you are talking about characters in a play or other work of literature (or a film), you may use either “who” or “that.”
Please note the correct versions of the following constructions:
- “Both ____ and ____” not “Both_____ as well as _____”
- “___ as well as ____” not any other construction involving “as well as”
- “It is ___ that ____” not “It is___ which ___” (although I hate this phrase anyway)
- “Not only ___, but also ___” not “Not only____, also ____”
The Reader/You
Try not to refer to “the reader” or to “you.” There is no single reader of a text, and often when critics say, “the reader,” they really mean, “me.” When they say “you,” they also often mean “me.” It’s a lot simpler if you just say “readers…they” instead of “the reader.”