Dear Master’s
Programs student,
Today’s writing
tip will complement (not compliment) the confused words entry from
last week. In principle (not principal),
most writers will already be familiar with the distinctions between these
words, but I know we can all use a refresher on these easily-mistaken
homophones. So without further ado, here
are the four word groupings for today:
Affect
vs. Effect
Affect (verb): to change, to
influence
Effect
(noun):
consequence, result
E.g. Judging by the jury’s “guilty” verdict, the
defense attorney’s impassioned pleas did not affect the outcome of the trial.
E.g. Scientists are unsure about this medication’s
effect on humans since it’s only been
tested on mice.
Tip: Remember that affect is an action.
Note:
“Affect” is
used as a noun in psychology to mean “emotional response.” E.g. Despite the recent turmoil in her life,
Mary has displayed remarkably flat affect.
Note: “Effect” is sometimes used as a verb to mean
“to cause” or “to bring about.” E.g. Policy analysts doubt that the proposed
plan will effect the changes the
president promised.
Loose
vs. Lose
Loose (adjective): slack;
unrestrained or unfastened; flowing
Lose/Lost/Lost (verb): to suffer defeat; to
misplace or be deprived of
E.g. Sometimes Barkley’s collar is a little too loose.
E.g. We lose
Barkley whenever we forget to tighten his collar.
Tip: If you lose one of the O’s, you end up with “lose.”
Cite,
Sight, & Site
Cite (verb): to quote an authority;
to provide bibliographic information for a citation
Sight (noun): the sense of vision;
something to behold
Site (noun): a specific location;
sometimes short for “website.”
E.g. At first George doubted my claim, but he believed
me after I cited several experts who
share my view.
E.g. Hellen Keller lost her sight at an early age, but her life provides illumination to those
who study it.
E.g. Gettysburg is the site of a historic Civil War battle and the site of Lincoln’s famous address to honor Union soldiers.
Tip: You need sight to see light. Think of cite
as in citation.
Ensure
vs. Insure
Ensure
(verb): to make
certain; to guarantee. [It’s also the
brand name of a nutritional shake.]
Insure (verb): to buy insurance for,
to protect against (loss)
E.g. Tywin Lannister’s entrance into the Battle of
Blackwater ensured victory for his
allies.
E.g. We need to insure the house—especially because we live in a zone prone to
flooding.
Tip: Remember
that you insure something by
buying insurance for it.
Reread today’s
tip to ensure you’ve fully ingested
it. Happy Writing!
