What's the proper usage of effect and affect?

Could someone please give me a good way of explaning of the proper usage of the words: affect and effect ? I know this is stupid, I know what the difference is, but yet when I come across when I edit other people's papers, even though I explain throughly to them, they don't get it.

affect = verb
effect = noun

If people don't get it, they never will. I'm just happy as long as they get the whole your/you're thing.

They're often confused as their sounds are so similar, msmaliah, whether you're on the east coast or over there enjoying your California weather.

(Okay I deserve all the flames for that.)

I agree with xiigzag. (Of course with the English language I'm sure there are exceptions.)

affect is always a verb; it means 'to influence'.

effect can be a noun or a verb. As a noun it means 'a result'; as a verb it means 'to bring about.' (thus the terms 'effective' and 'efficacious')

aarthur001 has explained it pretty well. I've never known how to explain it, and I found that really helpful. The way I remember which to use is I think of the term 'the greenhouse effect' is an overall result, and the 'e's in greenhouse mean I use the word effect if I'm talking about an overall result. It may sound a bit odd to others, but it makes sense to me.

I don't think it's a matter of some people being incapable of understanding the difference, more they just don't want to learn the difference.

Excuse me, but why do you bother answering these when others already have. What you have to say is nothing different from what he or she said.

'itbeyomomma'- if you read my post, you'll notice I also added how I personally distinguish between the two. I think you'll find that your post was rather more needless than mine.

*Throws some pink fluffy bunnies to you*

Even after getting the answer to this myself, I would always ask!!
Put it in a sentence:

This will affect our society...
(feelings)
The effects of...
(result)
Thats how I remember!!!

Affect and Effect are 'troublesome verbs'.

Affect - beginning with an 'a' - to act upon; to alter; to assume, to adopt.

Effect - to bring about. (as a noun it means: that which is brought about, as a result or an impression.)