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Affect or Effect?
The Difference between "Affect" and "Effect"
"Affect" and "effect" are easy to confuse. "Affect" means to change. "Effect" means a result. Here is more detail:- Affect. "Affect" means to change, to impact on, or to transform. For example:
- I want to affect the vote.
- Effect. "Effect" means a result, a consequence, or an appearance.
- Your work has an effect on the vote.

A Video Summary
Here is a short video summarizing the difference between "affect" and "effect."Ready for the Test?
Example Sentences with "Affect"
Remember that "to affect" is a verb meaning to change, to impact on, or to transform. For example:- Did the cold affect you?
- Do not use low-fat milk. It will affect the taste.
Example Sentences with "Effect"
Remember that "effect" means result, outcome, consequence, or appearance. For example:- What effect did your reprimand have?
- That is a nice effect.
A Little Trick To Spot "Effect"
The word "effect" has several meanings. It can mean "outcome," "consequence," or "appearance." Try using one of these instead of "effect." If the sentence still makes sense, then "effect" is almost certainly correct.(This trick works because "effect" is a noun, just like the words "outcome," "consequence," and "appearance.")
A Little Trick To Spot "Affect"
Try using the verb "to transform" (in its various forms, e.g., "transforming," "transformed," "transforms") instead of "affect." If the sentence still makes sense, then "affect" is almost certainly correct. However, if you find yourself trying to use "transformation," then you should be using "effect" because both are nouns.(This trick works because "to transform" is a verb, just like "to affect." )
Some More Example Sentences with "Effect" and "Affect"
Here are some more example sentences with "effect" and "affect":Example 1:
- What effect did foot-and-mouth disease have on your business?
- Did foot-and-mouth disease affect your business?
- Do not allow this incident to effect your decision.
It's Not That Simple Unfortunately
Most of this page is dedicated to telling you that "effect" is a noun and "affect" is a verb. That is an appropriate start point for learning about the difference between "effect" and "affect," but unfortunately it is not always true. Be aware that "effect" can be a verb, and "affect" can be a noun.The Verb "To Effect"
"To effect" as a verb is fairly rare, but it is useful in business writing. It means "to bring into being." For example:- We will effect the new law on Monday.
- The new policy will be effected as soon as the paper is signed.
The Noun "Affect"
The noun "affect" is extremely rare. It is used in psychology to describe a subjective feeling caused by a thought or other stimulus. It is similar to mood or emotion and carries a connotation of there being external physical signs. For example:- The patient displayed an unusual affect when questioned.
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See Also
adverse or averse? Ms., Miss, or Mrs? avenge or revenge? bare or bear? complement or compliment? dependant or dependent? discreet or discrete? disinterested or uninterested? e.g. or i.e.? envy or jealousy? imply or infer? its or it's? material or materiel? poisonous or venomous? practice or practise? principal or principle? tenant or tenet? who's or whose? advice or advise? What are nouns? What are verbs? List of easily confused wordsPage URL