Affect and effect get me almost every time.

Even though I read, and re-read, the meanings to use them appropriately, I still just can't get it!

It really effects (or is that affects) my writing and drives me nuttier!

Can anyone help? Is there some rule of thumb that will make sense to me that I can hang onto and use?

Does anyone have similar problems with words? Let's figure it out.

KD