So is there a reason to know the difference between Affect and Effect?
I can affect and outcome but the effects of said outcome are well known. (Ok yes the difference is important here)
The affected area vs. The effected area (What is the difference here?)
I used to be a writer so I'll help you out.
An effect is a process that enacts change on an object. So, for example, if you slow someone in a video game that's a status effect. You are using a slow effect or putting a slow effect on someone. Effect is a noun. You do not effect someone with slow.
Affect is the action of applying a change to an object. So, a slowing ability in a video game would not affect CC immune enemies. Affect is a verb. You do not use a slowing status affect.
I mix them up a good bit too. There is absolutely no reason they should be different words. In spoken American English they're indistinguishable by pronunciation but very easy to tell apart by context. What makes it worse is that effect has an archaic verb form: "I wish to effect change in this corporation." Meaning that most uses of the word effect are
technically correct and spell check will usually not call you out on your shit. So technically in a video game you could "effect a slow on someone", but that's a dying usage not worth knowing.
TL;DR: Starts with e its a noun, starts with a its a verb. Just for this one word; fuck you English.