In reporting Gov. Palin’s resignation, MSN says that she desires to “‘affect positive change’ from outside government.” The NYTimes reports her as saying, “We know we can effect positive change outside of government.” So which is it: “affect” or “effect”?
Erin
Alan Schmierer
effect
Having finally bothered to listen to the recording of her speech, here’s my transcription of what Palin said: “We know we can effect positive change outside government.” So both MSN and the NYTimes got the quotation wrong. But at least these two sources didn’t misquote her and then add sic in brackets after the errors they introduced, as many others did.
More evidence that all too many journalists can’t even quote (Language Log has run a number of posts on this problem). It reminds me of George W. Bush’s widely reported language gaffes. Some of them are actually the result of journalistic incompetence rather than Bush’s language difficulties. Seems like there is plenty of incompetence to go around.
Sydney
effect. And poor Dubbya – indeed he was accused of all sorts of gaffes. “Nuculer” (a mutant pronunciation of nuclear) was my favorite – but this is the common pronunciation in Texas.