Affect vs. Effect: Should I Use Affect or Effect?
The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation
Affect vs. Effect: Should I Use Affect or Effect?
Affect and effect are similar words with comparable meanings and pronunciations, so it’s little wonder that so many speakers of American English confuse the two. Here we will provide a quick guide for using the two words correctly.
Rule 1. Use the verb effect when you mean bring about or brought about, cause or caused.
Example: He effected a commotion in the crowd.
Meaning: He caused a commotion in the crowd.
Example: She effected a change in procedure.
Meaning: She brought about a change in procedure.
Rule 2. Use the noun effect when you mean result.
Example: What effect did that speech have?
Rule 3. Use the verb affect when you mean to influence rather than to cause.
Example: How do the budget cuts affect your staffing?
Rule 4. Affect is also used as a noun to mean emotional expression.
Example: She showed little affect when told she had won the lottery.
Using Affect or Effect
The basic difference between affect and effect is:
- affect is typically used as a verb that refers to an action.
- effect is typically used as a noun that refers to an outcome.
In other words, an action can affect something. The result of that action is an effect. Affect is what’s happening; effect is a result.
Affect in a Sentence
As we’ve established, affect is often used as a verb, as in the following sentences:
I was tired from traveling, but I tried to not let it affect my performance at the convention.
As inspiration to save more money, think of how losing your income for six months or longer would affect your family.
Effect in a Sentence
Once again, in many cases, effect is the result of action, as shown in these examples:
Shining blue light on the snowfall created an interesting effect.
Giving Greg a huge bonus had the effect of motivating him.
Distinguishing Affect and Effect: Memory Tool
Beyond identifying most uses of affect as verbs and effect as nouns, you can also remember the RAVEN shortcut in helping you decide on the correct word:
- Remember
- Affect
- Verb
- Effect
- Noun
Affect and Effect: When They Flip-Flop
Affect can serve as a noun and effect can act as a verb.
Affect as a noun usually describes someone’s emotional state: Jeremiah’s therapy is having a positive impact on his daily affect.
Effect as a verb means “to bring about” or “to cause”: The campaign intends to effect longer-lasting protections for the region’s wildlife.
Pop Quiz
Using what you’ve learned in this article, choose the correct word in each sentence.
1. I love the soothing [affect/effect] of gently falling raindrops.
2. Researchers are conducting a study to see whether coffee will [affect/effect] students’ concentration.
3. My friend hopes the weather in New York will not [affect/effect] his flight arrival time.
4. Your daily nutrition habits will [affect/effect] the results you get from your exercise routine.
5. Government economists hope the new tax law will have a positive [affect/effect] on economic growth.
Pop Quiz Answers
1. I love the soothing effect of gently falling raindrops.
2. Researchers are conducting a study to see whether coffee will affect students’ concentration.
3. My friend hopes the weather in New York will not affect his flight arrival time.
4. Your daily nutrition habits will affect the results you get from your exercise routine.
5. Government economists hope the new tax law will have a positive effect on economic growth.
Are you ready for the quiz?
If the article or the existing discussions do not address a thought or question you have on the subject, please use the "Comment" box at the bottom of this page.
Your explanation is the most succinct of the six I have reviewed. I have copied the examples from the other grammarians but your explanation heads the examples that I have my students study.
Tim’s point is a good one and I shall use ‘in and of itself’ henceforth. Often borrowed worlds have an effect, slightly jarring, distracting from the whole or, as Tim points out, fail to match the meaning of a better word or phrase from the language being used.
And kudos, my dear, for your strength of presence to accept and respond to Tim’s information. I, too, am always thrilled to have my errors pointed out to me. How else can we learn from the habits we accumulate in our journeys through complex lives.
Namaste and care to all sentient beings across our ever-being, not expanding, conscious universe.
Thank you.
I find it easier to think of effect as active and affect as passive.
Effect (Active): His medicine was effective for a short time. The law had a
good effect on his behavior.
Affect (Passive): Her affect was sad. Paralysis affected her legs.
Your interpretation of “active” and “passive” is a personal one. Grammatically, both of your “Affect” sentences are in the active voice. We are concerned that your method will not always yield the correct result.
I have been a teacher for about 10 years, and this is literally the best explanation of these two words. Thank you because it can be so frustrating trying to explain this to high school students.
Thank you, Celeste. We appreciate hearing that.