"Brenda Ann" wrote in
:

If you look them up, 'affect' and 'effect' are the same when used as a
verb..

I did look them up. They are very similar, but not the same.

Affect is almost the precursor to effect. In fact, one of the definitions
of affect is "to cause an effect."

The only real way to use effect as a verb is something like "the new office
manager effected many changes."

Proper usage:

The heat affects me badly. (not effects)
Heat has a bad effect on me. (not affect)

I even see newspaper reporters screwing this one up.

End of off topic rant.