[urgent] Can "affect" be used as a noun?

[Barb_D]

I would suggest that effect the verb is used a great deal more often than affect the noun (outside of psychology), particularly when talking about changes.

The mayor effected sweeping reforms as soon as he came to office.
The manager had good ideas, but couldn't seem to effect the changes he wanted to make.

[Anglika]

To go back to the original question, the use of affect makes sense in the context provided. It is used in this sense: noun Psychology emotion or desire as influencing behaviour.

[tedtmc]

affect - Psychology emotion or desire as influencing behaviour
effect - result

1. The stress of modern living and the normal aging process wears heavily on us as emotional beings. One emotion/desire(affect) is our ability to sustain our memories.

2. The stress of modern living and the normal aging process wears heavily on us as emotional beings. One result (effect) is our ability to sustain our memories.

No. 1 doesn't quite make sense.
No. 2 definitely sounds more logical.
The effect of the stress of modern living - this is what we commonly hear. 'Affect' as a noun is not common.

not a teacher

[RonBee]

affect - Psychology emotion or desire as influencing behaviour
effect - result

1. The stress of modern living and the normal aging process wears heavily on us as emotional beings. One emotion/desire(affect) is our ability to sustain our memories.

2. The stress of modern living and the normal aging process wears heavily on us as emotional beings. One result (effect) is our ability to sustain our memories.

No. 1 doesn't quite make sense.
No. 2 definitely sounds more logical.
The effect of the stress of modern living - this is what we commonly hear. 'Affect' as a noun is not common.

not a teacher

One of the threads in the Frequently Asked Questions section deals with this issue. (Indeed, there are many questions that have been asked and answered but keep getting asked again.)

Note:

If you have a question about a word, please look it up first. If you are still confused, post your question here (in the Ask a Teacher forum).

[Raymott]

One of the threads in the Frequently Asked Questions section deals with this issue. (Indeed, there are many questions that have been asked and answered but keep getting asked again.)

None, I think, tackle it completely, since there are still misconceptions by native English-speakers that the original sentence is correct in its use of "affect" as a noun. Having spent many years in psychiatry, I am of the opinion that it is not. The word is not used in this way. An inability to sustain our memories is not an affect. I've given a correct usage in an earlier post.
I think that Soup is correct in suggesting that if you're not into psychology, not to use it.

[IvanV]

None, I think, tackle it completely, since there are still misconceptions by native English-speakers that the original sentence is correct in its use of "affect" as a noun. Having spent many years in psychiatry, I am of the opinion that it is not. The word is not used in this way. An inability to sustain our memories is not an affect. I've given a correct usage in an earlier post.
I think that Soup is correct in suggesting that if you're not into psychology, not to use it.

Inability can never be an affect, but can affect one.
I fully agree with you, Raymott!

[RonBee]

None, I think, tackle it completely, since there are still misconceptions by native English-speakers that the original sentence is correct in its use of "affect" as a noun. Having spent many years in psychiatry, I am of the opinion that it is not. The word is not used in this way. An inability to sustain our memories is not an affect. I've given a correct usage in an earlier post.
I think that Soup is correct in suggesting that if you're not into psychology, not to use it.

I agree.