Based on the definition of "affectation," which refers to pretense, I

believe in this case that the reviewer is correct.  The usage seems to

suggest feigning knowledge, and "affect" would convey that better than

"effect."

 

JAC



>>> [log in to unmask] 2/23/2005 1:52:05 PM >>>



Apologies for cross-posting.



This might sound like a bizarre question, but I'm trying to establish

the 

correct form of a quotation from the screenplay of 'The Big Sleep': 

specifically the line in which Dorothy Malone describes the organised

crime 

boss whose front is an antique shop as someone '...who effects a

knowledge 

of antiques but hasn't any.'  Question: should it be 'effect' or 

'affect'?  I always thought the former, i.e. 'effect' as a verb meaning

(to 

quote the Chambers Dictionary definition) to accomplish or bring

something 

about.  I'm using this quotation in a book which is now in the final 

editing stage.  Not only have I used the quotation, but in the title of

a 

chapter as well - so needless to say, I'd like to get it right!  One of

the 

external readers has corrected the verb to 'affects'.  To my mind this



seems wrong: 'affect' means to change something which already exists, 

whereas the verb in this quote is being used to describe the creation

of an 

effect which did not previously exist (and, subtly, to point out that

the 

resulting effect [noun] is a false and misleading one).



I know that this sounds like a terribly niggly little point, but can

anyone 

settle this definitively?  I'd hate to have to change the title of my 

chapter this late in the day!



Many thanks in advance

Leo



Leo Enticknap

Northern Region Film & Television Archive

Middlesbrough, UK

www.nrfta.org.uk 



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