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The English language loves its homophones, or words that sound the same. Affect and effect are two words that are easy to mix up. They cause a lot of confusion because, not only do they sound alike, they also have similar meanings. Even native English speakers (and some professional writers!) have difficulty knowing whether to use affect or effect in a sentence. So which is the right word? The short answer is that affect is normally used as a verb meaning “to impact in some way,” and effect is normally used as a noun meaning “the result of a cause.” However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. This article will help you understand the basic difference between affect vs effect and learn how to use these two words correctly in your writing. What’s the Difference Between Affect and Effect?When you’re deciding whether to use affect vs effect, you must ask yourself: what is the role of the word in the sentence? You will most likely use affect as a verb, or an action word, and effect as a noun, or an object word. Let’s look at a few example sentences.
The article “the” gives us a clue that we need a noun. The correct word is effect.
In this case, we are looking for something the pandemic did to the world. It is an action, so we need a verb. The correct word choice here is affected. One trick for remembering the difference between the two words is this helpful mnemonic: “Affect is an Action. Effect is an End Result.” Therefore, affect is usually the verb and effect is usually the noun. When and How to Use Affect CorrectlyThere are several different ways the verb affect can be used. Let’s look at some examples of each. 1) To act on or cause a change in something or someoneExample: The cold weather affected our travel plans. 2) To cause illness, or symptoms, in something or someoneExample: COVID-19 has affected millions of people around the globe. 3) To produce an emotional responseExample: The music deeply affected him. 4) To influence someone or somethingExample: When she broke off the engagement, he tried not to let his emotions affect his decisions. There are a few exceptions where affect is used as a noun, but those cases are rare. We’ll cover the exceptions to the general rule in more detail later in the article. When and How to Use Effect CorrectlyAs we mentioned earlier, effect is most often used as a noun. The noun form of effect has multiple different meanings. We typically think of an effect as the result of a cause. 1) A thing that inevitably follows a causeExample: Her singing had the effect of bringing the audience to tears. 2) A distinct impressionExample: The blue walls gave the effect of being cool. 3) Creation of a desired impressionExample: Alicia’s tears were purely for effect. 4) Something designed to create an impressionExample: The 3D effect made it feel as though you were on deck in a storm. 5) The state of being in operationExample: The new rules for health and safety go into effect on June 1. 6) A power to bring about a resultExample: One positive effect of social media is that it gives a voice to the masses. 7) An outward signExample: The building’s modern facade gave the effect of a new construction even though it was 70 years old. 8) IntentExample: The effect of the maestro’s sleight-of-hand was to dazzle the audience. 9) (Plural form) Someone’s possessions or belongingsExample: Please keep an eye on your personal effects to prevent thievery. You can see that when effect is a noun it has multiple uses in modern speech. If all of those meanings aren’t confusing enough, effect can occasionally be used as a verb. Exceptions to the Rule with Affect and EffectIt’s English, so you know there are exceptions to the rule! Every now and then, you might need to use affect as a noun or effect as a verb. These aren’t common uses, but you should know them anyway. Affect as a NounAffect is mainly used as a noun in psychology. Here, the noun affect refers to an individual’s overall demeanor. This includes facial expressions, body language, gestures, vocal tone, and other indications of how a person presents themselves. You might see some writers use affect instead of the word disposition. Here are some examples:
In older literature, affect can also mean sensation or passion, but this usage is obsolete in modern English. Effect as a VerbWhen effect is used as a verb, it means to make something happen. This definition is commonly used in the political sphere where you might hear the phrases “effect a change” or “effect a new policy.” Synonyms for effect as a verb include “bring about,” “cause,” and “engender.” Here are some examples of effect as a verb:
Examples of Affect vs Effect in SentencesThe best way to learn any sort of grammar and spelling rule is through examples, so let’s look at some sample sentences.
How About Affects vs Effects?Here are some examples of the plural form of the noun effect versus the conjugated form of the verb affect:
Affecting vs Effecting ExamplesNow let’s look at some examples of the plural form of effecting versus affecting:
Conclusion on Affect vs EffectThe words effect and affect are both about doing, but doing in different ways.
ProWritingAid has tools that can help you with similar words like affect and effect. Our Realtime Report can tell when you’ve used the wrong word. It’s always a good idea to run this report in case you’ve mixed up the words effect and affect. It can catch many other misused homophones, too. If you’re not sure why the software is suggesting a change, you can click on the orange “i” icon to refresh your memory on the difference between affect and effect. Take your writing to the next level:20 Editing Tips from Professional WritersWhether you are writing a novel, essay, article, or email, good writing is an essential part of communicating your ideas.This guide contains the 20 most important writing tips and techniques from a wide range of professional writers.How do you use affect and effect in a sentence?Affect is usually a verb meaning "to produce an effect upon," as in "the weather affected his mood." Effect is usually a noun meaning "a change that results when something is done or happens," as in "computers have had a huge effect on our lives."
Is it affect me or effect me?Affect is most commonly used as a verb meaning “to act on or produce a change in someone or something.” Effect is most commonly used as a noun meaning “a result or consequence,” as in cause and effect.
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