What is the difference between affect and effect?
Affect is usually a verb meaning “to influence or change something.” Effect is typically a noun meaning “the result or outcome of something.”
Using Affect
Affect works as a verb in most everyday situations. Rain affects the soil moisture. Music affects our mood. Bad news affects stock prices.
A simple way to remember this: when describing how one thing changes or influences another, use affect.
Using Effect
Effect shines as a noun – it names the end result of a change. Medication side effects bother many patients. The greenhouse effect warms our planet. The special effects in movies create magic on screen.
Special Cases
Effect can sometimes work as a verb meaning “to bring about or accomplish.” Leaders effect change in organizations. This use happens mainly in formal writing.
Affect rarely serves as a noun. When it does, it describes someone’s emotional state or facial expression, mainly in psychology: “The patient showed a flat affect during therapy.”
Memory Tips
Think about cause and action with affect (both start with ‘a’). Think about end results with effect (both start with ‘e’).
Examples in Context
The medicine affected her headache. (The medicine influenced or changed her headache) The effect of the medicine was quick pain relief. (The result was pain relief)
The tax increase affected many small businesses. (The tax changed how businesses operated) The effect of higher taxes meant lower profits. (The result was reduced profits)
The coach’s words affected the team’s motivation. (The words influenced their drive) The effect of his speech led to better performance. (The result was improved playing)