Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Don't abuse bemuse

"Bemuse" isn't a synonym for "amuse." It means to confuse or to occupy the attention of.

Another duo that trips people up is "affect" and "effect."

The verb "affect" means to influence:
Your constant chattering affects my ability to concentrate.

The verb "effect" means to bring about:
If we campaign hard, we may effect change.

The noun "effect" refers to a result:
When I wear earplugs, your noise has no effect on me.

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