Practise Using Affect and Effect

Affect versus effect

If you’re confused about the difference between affect and effect, you’re not alone. These are two commonly confused words, which have a similar spelling but different definitions.

Affect is most often used as a verb. It is defined as having an influence on something.

Effect is most often used as a noun. It is defined as the end result of an action, such as the domino effect.

This quote offers an easy way to remember the difference. Note the underlined “a” and “e.”

“The action is affect; the end result is effect.”
(Barbara Wallraff, Word Court. Harcourt, 2000)

Example (verb/action): Caffeine affects productivity.
Exampl2 (noun/end result): Shakiness is an effect you might have after drinking coffee.

When you are trying to decide whether to use affect or effect consider whether you’re talking about the action (verb), or the end result (noun).

Note: Effect is often used in an adjective or noun phrase:

After effect
Cause and effect
Domino effect
Greenhouse effect
Personal effects
Side effects
Sound effect
Special effect

Practise using affect and effect in a sentence

These examples have been taken from news headlines.

1. Smoking legislation to affect drivers

2. 5 Facebook rulings that affect what Canadians can do online

3. Cardamom crops affect forests, studies say

4. Changes in the temperature of foods can affect taste intensity

Test yourself by rewriting these headlines using the word effect.

Sentence #3 has been rewritten about the end results instead of an action and is used as a noun: The effects of cardamom crops are detrimental to tropical forests.

Affect as a noun

On rare occasions, affect is used as a noun in reference to a person’s mental state or display of emotion.

For example, when speaking about a depressed patient’s emotional response to stimuli you might say they showed a flat affect to stimuli.

Effect as a verb

When used as a verb, effect means having the power to bring about or to accomplish something. This is similar to its meaning as a noun (end result).

Example: the principal wanted to effect a change in the school’s curriculum.

I invite you to try using affect/effect in your comments ;-)

Action/influence: Did this post affect you?

End result: What effects are you feeling?

Emotional response: Are you experiencing a flat effect?

Accomplish a change: What would you like to effect a change in?

Thanks to Rhonda, who requested I write on this topic after writing about confusing words accept and except.

Image credit: Robert Gifford

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