Affect is usually a verb meaning to influence (“The weather affected our plans”); effect is usually a noun meaning a result (“The effect of the law was huge”).
Than is for comparisons (taller than he is); then is about time (first this, then that). Who's means who is; whose shows belonging.
Check apostrophes in compounds and plurals: my sister-in-law's car; CDs (no apostrophe for plurals); everyone's ideas; theirs and hers (no apostrophe for possessive pronouns).
Worked example
Choose: “The new rules will ___ every student.” (affect / effect)
- The word is a verb: the rules will do something.
- The verb meaning influence is affect.
Answer:affect
Key words
- affect
- a verb meaning to influence
- effect
- a noun meaning a result
- compound noun
- a noun made of several words
Practise this
New questions every time.
Common Core-referenced: L.8.1