AFFECT OR EFFECT?

Both of these words are verbs and nouns and their meanings overlap.

WHAT DOES AFFECT MEAN?

WHAT DOES AFFECT MEAN?

The verb affect means “to act on; produce a change in” as in, “The cold weather affected the crops.” (The cold weather produced a change in the crops.)

The verb affect can also mean “to impress the mind or move the feelings of,” as in “The music deeply affected him.” (The music changed his feelings or thoughts).

If you can substitute affect with another verb, you are using the right word:

“The cold weather damaged the crop.” “The music deeply moved him.”

So, when you want to use a word to express a change or to describe an action, choose affect.

Effect is most commonly used as a noun, meaning “result” or “consequence.”

WHAT DOES EFFECT MEAN?

One way to decide if effect is the correct word to use is to replace it with another noun.

For example, “His sunburn was an effect of exposure to the sun.”

Another way to say it is, “His sunburn was a result of exposure to the sun.”

HOW TO REMEMBER THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AFFECT AND EFFECT

HOW TO REMEMBER THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AFFECT AND EFFECT

There is one trick to help you use the right word in almost every case: the word RAVEN:

HOW TO REMEMBER THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AFFECT AND EFFECT

R = Remember A = Affect is a V = Verb E = Effect is a N = Noun