Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis::$environment is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/thesis.php on line 21

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis::$wp_customize is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/thesis.php on line 99

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis::$caching is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/thesis.php on line 100

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis::$wpseo is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/thesis.php on line 101

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_api::$options is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/api.php on line 22

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_api::$base is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/api.php on line 895

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_api::$strings is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/api.php on line 23

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_api::$form is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/api.php on line 24

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_api::$schema is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/api.php on line 25

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_api::$colors is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/api.php on line 30

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_api::$fonts is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/api.php on line 31

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_typography::$phi is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/api/typography.php on line 13

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_api::$typography is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/api.php on line 32

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_api::$css is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/api.php on line 33

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis::$api is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/thesis.php on line 75

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis::$wp is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/thesis.php on line 76

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis::$skins is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/thesis.php on line 82

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis::$skin is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/thesis.php on line 87

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_api::$home_seo is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/api.php on line 47

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_wp::$terms is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/wp/wp.php on line 117

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_favicon::$tooltip is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/skin/boxes.php on line 543

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_post_box::$_dependents is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/skin/skin_boxes.php on line 86

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_post_box::$_startup is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/skin/skin_boxes.php on line 88

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_post_edit::$edit is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/skin/boxes.php on line 1335

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_post_content::$custom is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/skin/boxes.php on line 1354

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_post_content::$read_more is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/skin/boxes.php on line 1355

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_post_excerpt::$read_more is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/skin/boxes.php on line 1411

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_post_num_comments::$singular is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/skin/boxes.php on line 1505

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_post_num_comments::$plural is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/skin/boxes.php on line 1506

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_post_image::$image_type is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/skin/boxes.php on line 1659

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_post_thumbnail::$image_type is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/skin/boxes.php on line 1791

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis::$_wp_featured_image_rss is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/wp/boxes.php on line 323

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_post_box::$_dependents is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/skin/skin_boxes.php on line 86

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_post_box::$_startup is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/skin/skin_boxes.php on line 88

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_post_edit::$edit is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/skin/boxes.php on line 1335

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_post_content::$custom is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/skin/boxes.php on line 1354

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_post_content::$read_more is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/skin/boxes.php on line 1355

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_post_excerpt::$read_more is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/skin/boxes.php on line 1411

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_post_num_comments::$singular is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/skin/boxes.php on line 1505

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_post_num_comments::$plural is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/skin/boxes.php on line 1506

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_post_image::$image_type is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/skin/boxes.php on line 1659

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_post_thumbnail::$image_type is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/skin/boxes.php on line 1791

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_wp_nav_menu::$control is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/wp/boxes.php on line 71

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_comments_intro::$singular is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/wp/boxes.php on line 370

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_comments_intro::$plural is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/wp/boxes.php on line 371

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_comments::$_dependents is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/skin/skin_boxes.php on line 86

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_comments::$_startup is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/skin/skin_boxes.php on line 88

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_comment_permalink::$link is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/wp/boxes.php on line 605

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_comment_reply::$text is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/wp/boxes.php on line 677

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_comments::$_dependents is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/skin/skin_boxes.php on line 86

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_comments::$_startup is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/skin/skin_boxes.php on line 88

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_comment_permalink::$link is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/wp/boxes.php on line 605

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_comment_reply::$text is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/wp/boxes.php on line 677

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_comments::$_dependents is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/skin/skin_boxes.php on line 86

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_comments::$_startup is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/skin/skin_boxes.php on line 88

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_comment_permalink::$link is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/wp/boxes.php on line 605

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_comment_reply::$text is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/wp/boxes.php on line 677

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_comments_nav::$previous is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/wp/boxes.php on line 703

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_comments_nav::$next is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/wp/boxes.php on line 704

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_comments_nav::$previous is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/wp/boxes.php on line 703

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_comments_nav::$next is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/wp/boxes.php on line 704

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_comment_form_title::$leave is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/wp/boxes.php on line 814

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_comment_form::$_dependents is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/skin/skin_boxes.php on line 86

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_comment_form::$_startup is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/skin/skin_boxes.php on line 88

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_comment_form_cancel::$cancel is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/wp/boxes.php on line 1007

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_comment_form_title::$leave is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/wp/boxes.php on line 814

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_comment_form::$_dependents is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/skin/skin_boxes.php on line 86

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_comment_form::$_startup is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/skin/skin_boxes.php on line 88

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_comment_form_cancel::$cancel is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/wp/boxes.php on line 1007

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_previous_posts_link::$previous is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/wp/boxes.php on line 1154

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_next_posts_link::$next is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/wp/boxes.php on line 1196

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_classic_r::$grt is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/skin.php on line 156

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_fonts::$list is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/api/fonts.php on line 17

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_fonts::$select is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/api/fonts.php on line 100

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_skin_fonts::$list is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/skin/api/fonts.php on line 18

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_skin_fonts::$select is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/skin/api/fonts.php on line 129

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_css_api::$strings is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/api/css.php on line 17

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_css_api::$properties is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/api/css.php on line 18

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_css_api::$options is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/core/api/css.php on line 19
Effect, Affect, and Effectuate: Using them correctly — Legal Writing Editor
≡ Menu

Effect, Affect, and Effectuate: Using them correctly

Today’s Garner Usage Tip of the Day talks about the “blunder” of using effect when it should be affect, and vice versa. As Garner’s tip correctly says, affect means to influence or have an effect on; whereas, effect means to bring about or carry it out. John Trimble says that “[f]ew word pairs can rival these terrors for the headaches they breed.”

That being so, let’s delve deeper into the issue, even though the difference between the meanings of affect and effect when used as verbs should be fairly elementary to even the most inexperienced legal writers.

Longman Guide to English Usage attributes the same meanings as Garner does above to effect and affect and also provides the meanings for affect and effects when both are used as nouns (which is beyond the scope of this post).

The New Fowler’s Modern English Usage says that, as verbs, affect and effect are “words of totally different meaning neither of which can ever be substituted for each other.” Fowler says that affect means to “have an influence on, produce an effect on, concern, [or] effect a change in.” Effect, on the other hand, means to “bring about, cause, produce, result in, have a result, [or] accomplish.”

The following sentences are examples of the common misuse of affect and effect in legal writing:

Only legislative action can affect [effect] a change in the law.

Being sanctioned by the court effected [affected] John’s good standing within the legal community.

Sometimes, writers use effectuate when they should use effect. You should avoid it, even though some have found that effectuate is much more common than effect (the example in the preceding link was “to effectuate the legislature’s intent,” which the author found to be much more common than “to effect the legislature’s intent”).

Garner’s Dictionary of Modern Legal Usage says that “stylists have generally considered effect the preferable word,” and effectuate a “needless variant.” But Garner nonetheless counsels that effect and effectuate are not synonymous, and that both may be used correctly in certain contexts: effect meaning “to cause to happen, to bring about,” and effectuate meaning “to give effect to, to bring into effect.”

Under these rules, then, it would be proper to write: To effect a change in the law, the legislature had to enact the legislation. But to effectuate the legislature’s intent, the department had to promulgate new rules.

Regardless of the fine distinction between effect and effectuate, if you are unsure about which word to use you should use effect, which is much more common in legal writing than effectuate and thus the safer word choice. Or, preferably, you should consult your usage and style books before making the choice.


Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property thesis_comments::$tab_depth is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/wp/boxes.php on line 455

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.


Deprecated: Automatic conversion of false to array is deprecated in /home3/wab3ds0abdue/public_html/wp-content/themes/thesis/lib/wp/boxes.php on line 172