See affect, effect
Terms to watch out for
effect
effectiveness, efficacy
effectiveness: capacity of an agent to achieve a specific outcome in practice (ie under ‘real world’ conditions)
efficacy: a measure of the probablility and intensity of beneficial effects under ideal conditions – for example, the ability of a therapeutic agent to improve a health outcome in a clinical trial
efficacy
embryo, fetus
embryo: a multicellular diploid eukaryote in its earliest stage of development. In humans, this includes the developmental stages up to the end of the 7th week, after which the embryo is called a fetus
fetus: a developing vertebrate after the embryonic stage and before birth
enhance, improve, increase
Enhance should generally be avoided because it can have several meanings (improve, increase or intensify) and therefore can lead to ambiguity:
The plan was reviewed and improved to meet stakeholder expectations.
not
The plan was reviewed and enhanced to meet stakeholder expectations.
not
The plan was reviewed and enhanced to meet stakeholder expectations.
The program increases Australia’s capability to detect emerging diseases.
not
The program enhances Australia’s capability to detect emerging diseases.
not
The program enhances Australia’s capability to detect emerging diseases.