“The disease was inflicted by mosquitoes.”
Confusables Entry 1421 / 1605 60-second read
Afflict vs. Inflict
To trouble or cause suffering to versus to impose on.
The comparisoni
“The disease afflicted the village — AFFLICT takes the sufferer as object. INFLICT takes the harm as object.”
The ruleii
¶
AFFLICT a person. INFLICT a wound.
AFFLICT a victim ("malaria afflicts millions"). INFLICT a thing ON a victim ("the storm inflicted damage on the coast"). Different object structures, often confused.
Memory aidiii
Remember it like this
Afflict the person. Inflict the harm.