Words

Amazon

Suggest improvements for the highlighted problem area: In an estuary, the meeting place of a river and a tidal sea, harsh conditions can adversely effect commercial shipping. For example, near the Amazon delta is the estuary for the Para River in which the incoming tide can build up to a flood wave of water. As the wave moves inland, the estuary becomes narrower and the wave becomes a wall of water that can grow to hieghts of 5 or 10 meters. This daily tidal wave can cause significant damage along the river bank and is accompanied by a frightening sound called the pororoca (thundering water). Needless to say, few merchants are anxious to operate ships in such an estuary. Answer: - Effect versus Affect - Our opening paragraph has a mistake in the first sentence: In an estuary, the meeting place of a river and a tidal sea, harsh conditions can adversely effect commercial shipping. The word effect is most often used as a noun but in this sentence it is used as a verb. As a verb, effect means to bring about or to accomplish. From the context of the sentence we can see that neither of these meanings was intended. Instead, the author really wanted to say affect, which means to influence: In an estuary, the meeting place of a river and a tidal sea, harsh conditions can adversely affect commercial shipping. More examples follow for these words that are so often confounded: For those who ignore the tides, injury is often the effect.    [noun: result] Pororoca can have a powerful effect on a child.    [noun: influence] The roar of pororoca gives the effect of a hurricane.    [noun: impression] The wall of water washed away her effects.    [noun: personal belongings] The tides effect a cleansing of the estuary walls.    [verb: to cause, to bring about] The word affect is most often used as a verb: Pororoca will affect a swimming tourist like few other natural attractions.    [verb: to influence, to persuade] Ropni affected the confidence of Neptune and ignored the approaching wall of water.    [verb: to put on, to make a pretense of]

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