Use Affect and Effect

Do you have trouble deciding when to use affect and when to use effect? This is a common and understandable problem in English because the two words sound remarkably similar (if not identical) and have related - though distinct - meanings. Luckily, it's easy to learn the difference and avoid mistaking these two words. See Step 1 below to get started!

Steps

Using "Affect" Properly

  1. Use "affect" as a verb meaning "to influence" or "to cause a change." Though "affect" has multiple meanings, its most common use is as a verb with a meaning similar to "produce." Typically, when people want to say that one thing has had an impact on another, they will use the verb "affect."[1] To distinguish this meaning of the word "affect" from "effect", use the following mnemonic: "When I affect something, I produce an effect'.'
    • Below are a few examples of the word "affect" being used in this way:
      • It's hard to say how the price of gasoline will affect the economy in the long run.
      • Growing up with three older sisters affected me greatly as a person.
      • When someone affects you strongly, you may develop affection for them. (Notice in this example that the root of affection is affect.)
  2. Use "affect" as a verb meaning "to pretend" or "to put on airs." People also use the word "affect" when someone acts in a way that's different from how s/he normally acts. If someone assumes a new personality or look, s/he is "affecting" his or her new traits.[2]
    • Below are a few examples of the word "affect" being used in this way:
      • Richard affected an attitude of indifference, though he was deeply hurt by the comments.
      • In her role as lady Macbeth, Sally, normally jovial, was able to affect a cold sneer of cruelty.
  3. Use "affect" as a noun meaning "mood" or "mental state." Finally, the word "affect" is sometimes used to describe the way someone seems or acts - often in a psychological sense. Someone's "affect" can be thought of roughly as the way s/he externally "seems."[2]
    • Below are a few examples of the word "affect" being used in this way:
      • The gambler's flat, emotionless affect served him well at the poker table.
      • Dr. Robertson noted that the patient's affect had responded well to the regimen of anti-psychotics.

Using "Effect" Properly

  1. Use "effect" as a noun meaning "the result of a cause." When people misuse "affect" with an "A", they often intended this meaning of "effect" with an "E." An "effect" in this sense is the opposite of a cause - an event that happens because of some other precipitating event happening.[1]
    • Below are a few examples of the word "effect" being used in this way:
      • It's hard to say what effect the rising price of gasoline will have on the world economy.
      • One undesirable effect of not wearing shoes is getting really dirty feet.
      • The hurricane caused countless tragedies and many victims are still feeling its depressing effects.
  2. Use "effect" as a noun with a meaning similar to "impression." Another meaning of the word "effect" is related to the impression or sensation that a person, thing, or event produces. These "effects" can be psychological, physical, or emotional.[3]
    • Below are a few examples of the word "effect" being used in this way:
      • Dvorak's New World Symphony produced a moving effect on the listeners in the auditorium.
      • The experimental drug is known to have a calming effect on rats, though it is not yet ready for human trials.
  3. Use "effect" as a verb meaning "to bring about." This meaning of "effect" is tricky because it can be used similarly to the word "affect" with the meaning "to cause or influence."[1] The two words are nearly interchangeable, though maintain slightly different meanings - "effect" implies a cause bringing about or accomplishing a change, whereas "affect" implies a cause or force altering something.
    • Below are a few examples of the word "effect" being used in this way:
      • The CEO demanded that the employees work overtime to effect a complete overhaul of the company's product line.
      • Her actions in the War Room effected a change in the situation on the battlefield.
  4. Use "effect" as a noun meaning "personal possession." Finally, one somewhat out-of-style use of the word "effect" is to convey the idea of someone's private possessions - his or her wallet, phone, keys, mementos, jewelry, diary, and so on. In this case, "effect" as almost always used in its plural form, as in "personal effects."
    • Below are a few examples of the word "effect" being used in this way:
      • His personal effects were scattered across the kitchen but the man himself was nowhere to be found.
      • The little girl skipped through the forest, choosing rocks and flowers as her personal effects as she went.



Tips

  • Effect means after the cause, affect means during the cause.
  • When used as a noun, affect refers to emotional expression.

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 http://web.ku.edu/~edit/affect.html
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 http://public.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/affect.html
  3. ↑ http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2014/04/affect-vs-effect-quick-visual-guide/
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