Comments on: A magna cum laude graduate of the University of Malta

By: Pat

Pat — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 10:08:47 +0000

Guzeppi:
Small detail, but “Effect” can be a verb as well, just as “Affect” can be a noun.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/effect
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/affect

[Daphne – The use of ‘affect’ as a noun is reserved for the jargon of psychology. I can’t think of a single example in which it might be used in everyday speech. The distinction between the two words purely on the noun/verb basis is incorrect. It is like distinguishing between ‘cupboard’ and ‘mend’ on the basis that one is a noun and the other is a verb. ‘Affect’ and ‘effect’ are two entirely different words with completely different meanings. The fact that they share their spelling with the exception of the initial letter does not mean they are in any way related through the noun/verb process. ‘To effect’ means to bring something into being. ‘To affect’ means to influence or change something. The noun is always ‘effect’ (except for that psychological jargon), e.g. an effect of that change was…. Besides, in English many verbs are also nouns: e.g. to drive/a drive; to walk/a walk; to run/a run; to cook/a cook; to swim/a swim.]

By: Corinne Vella

Corinne Vella — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 09:45:47 +0000

Guzeppi Grech: The simple rule to remember is “c” for nouns, “s” for verbs.

By: Guzeppi Grech

Guzeppi Grech — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 08:40:52 +0000

It is simple actually
Advice = Noun
Advise = Verb

Same goes for
Effect = Noun
Affect = Verb

The only problem remaining is remembering which is which, otherwise: Ding Dong!

By: Gerald

Gerald — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 08:03:47 +0000

It’s amazing true this advice/advise thing. i remember when a high powered female PA to a GM always used to write ‘Please advice’ in her emails. I used to want to scream! Can’t really explain how they mix it up but it’s really annoying.

By: Brian*14

Brian*14 — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 14:09:59 +0000

“We have to make the party be the party of everyone especially those of the working class and middle-class and ensure that each one of them can freely belong and work within the party set-up.”

Freely belong? Once you belong to the party, can you ever be free?

[Daphne – “Especially the working-class and middle-class….”. I didn’t know Malta had an upper-class worth pursuing for votes.]

By: Corinne Vella

Corinne Vella — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 13:22:16 +0000

Antoine Vella: Your explanation makes sense (unlike Anglu Farrugia) but I still think that what Anglu Farrugia wrote was a Freudian slip. Didn’t he stand for election as party leader some time back?

By: Moggy

Moggy — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 11:47:41 +0000

Corinne: yes, you’re right. The last sentence is completely unintelligible.

By: Antoine Vella

Antoine Vella — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 11:36:51 +0000

Corinne: Actually, Anglu’s writing is not only confusing but confused because the ‘Leader of the House’ which he mentions is actually a government minister (I think Tonio Borg at present). The House cannot have two ‘Leaders’ so the “Leader of the House for the Opposition” is a “key position” which doesn’t exist.

Anglu is mixing up the position of MLP Deputy Leader for Parliamentary Affairs with that of the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs.

[Daphne – And he’s a lawyer (magna cum laude….), parliamentarian and deputy leader of the Opposition. What low standards the Labour Party has. It’s pitiable.]

By: Corinne Vella

Corinne Vella — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 09:05:39 +0000

Gerald: Or the act of giving or receiving advice with the advice itself?

By: H.P. Baxxter

H.P. Baxxter — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 08:09:54 +0000

@ Gerald: ????!!