Some English words look so similar that even fluent speakers mix them up. Today we permanently fix the two most common pairs — affect/effect and then/than — with tricks that will stick with you forever.
Part 1: affect vs effect
This is one of the most common confusions in written English. Here's the clean rule:
- affect = a verb (action word) — it means "to influence something"
- effect = a noun (thing/result word) — it means "the outcome"
✅ The rain affected the match. (verb – action)
✅ The effect of rain was a delayed match. (noun – result)
❌ The rain effected the match.
❌ The affect of rain was a delayed match.
- Affect = Action = Verb (A से A याद करो)
- Effect = End result = Noun (E से E याद करो)
More Examples
✅ Stress can affect your health. (influences → verb)
✅ What is the effect of stress on health? (result → noun)
Part 2: then vs than
These two are mixed up because they sound nearly identical in fast speech. But they have completely different jobs:
- then = used for time — "after that", "at that point"
- than = used for comparison — "more than", "better than"
✅ First study, then take the test. (time sequence)
✅ She is taller than her brother. (comparison)
❌ She is taller then her brother.
❌ First study, than take the test.
- Then → Time → "पहले यह, फिर वो" (sequence)
- Than → Comparison → "यह उससे ज़्यादा/बेहतर है"
Quick Test — spot the mistake:
1. "I would rather sleep then study." → Wrong! → Should be than (comparing preferences)
2. "Finish eating, than we'll go." → Wrong! → Should be then (time sequence)
3. "He is smarter than I thought." → Correct ✅
Summary / निष्कर्ष
- Affect = verb (action करना), Effect = noun (result/नतीजा)
- Then = time/sequence, Than = comparison
- दोनों के लिए आसान A→A, E→E और a=compare memory tricks