play video affect vs effect
Commonly Confused

Affect vs. Effect

Here's the lowdown on what may be the most confusing pair of words in the English language.


Here's the lowdown on what may be the most confusing pair of words in the English language.

Up next

play video affect vs effect
Affect vs. Effect

 

Here's the lowdown on what may be the most confusing pair of words in the English language.

play sneaked vs snuck video
Sneaked vs. Snuck

 

How the irregular 'snuck' sneaked into the dictionary

play merriam-webster eggcorns title page
What Is an Eggcorn?

 

And how did it get that name?

play peter-sokolowski-indict-graphic
Video: Why is there a 'c' in 'indict'?

 

And who put it there, anyway?

play emily-brewster-with-the-words-effect-affect-on-screen
How to Remember 'Affect' and 'Effect'

 

A simple way to keep them apart. (Most of the time.)

play hot mess
Hot Mess

 

Our research turned up two archaic literal meanings

play serenity carr next to an illustration of a refrigerator with the letter d in it
Why is there a 'd' in 'fridge' but not in 'refrigerator'?

 

Thawing one of the mysteries of English