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#59054 02/27/02 08:22 PM
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Hello!
Is there any difference between inflict and afflict?
Please help me!



#59055 02/27/02 08:52 PM
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A bad man can inflict injuries on other men. The men so afflicted can seek legal redress. I don't remember the grammatical terms for the difference.


#59056 02/27/02 10:09 PM
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I don't remember the grammatical terms for the difference.

Ah... lemme guess. Different?



The idiot also known as Capfka ...
#59057 02/27/02 10:48 PM
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OK, CK, smartypants. At half my age, you ought to remember. I cannot ordinarily afflict anything, though I can hear you saying that I afflict the board with a lot of nonsense.
I omitted greeting soojin to permit you the pleasure of first welcoming him to the board.
Dear Soojin, we welcome you, the more so that you have asked a good question.
There are other verbs with similar subtle differences. Take the pair "imply" and "infer". I have implied that Capital Kiwi should remember grammar better than I do. You may infer from this that I am admitting I am mildly senile. I am unable to deny it.
Dear CK: may I playfully challenge you to supply another such pair of verbs?


#59058 02/27/02 11:12 PM
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dr. bill, may I affectionately ask whether that challenge is open to others?


#59059 02/27/02 11:27 PM
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When entering the 5th grade science fair I called an English teacher to ask which was right...
How does moisture affect clay ceramics? Or How does moisture effect clay ceramics?
She must have gotten it right because I remember I got third place.


#59060 02/27/02 11:40 PM
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It seems likely that soojin would be interested in such pairs of words, all welcome to participate.
Affect implies that a change is made. Effect means to take required action to produce a desired change.
Rarely affect is a technical term in psychiatry referring to the emotions displayed by a patient.


#59061 02/27/02 11:50 PM
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And of course effect can be (and often is) used as a noun.


#59062 02/27/02 11:59 PM
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#59063 02/28/02 01:22 AM
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difference between inflict and afflict?

WELCOME to you soojin! Um, well... the simple answer based on the dictionary definitions is: no, there is little or no difference:

in·flict Pronunciation Key (n-flkt)
tr.v. in·flict·ed, in·flict·ing, in·flicts
1. To deal or mete out (something punishing or burdensome); impose: inflicted heavy losses on the enemy; a storm that inflicted widespread damage.
2. To afflict.

af·flict Pronunciation Key (-flkt)
tr.v. af·flict·ed, af·flict·ing, af·flicts
To inflict grievous physical or mental suffering on

Both definitions from http://www.dictionary.com.

Am guessing this is just a personal preference thing? I'd probably tend towards using inflict for something someone does to someone else eg. "Is wwh trying to inflict his sense of humour on us?" and afflicted as something which has happened eg. "I am afflicted with an addiction to AWAD" .. not sure if that makes sense but it does to me!

Hev

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