Affect vs. effect: what’s the difference?
How do you use affect and effect? Here’s a pro (Grammarflex) tip to aide your memory—it’s as easy as remembering that affect is a verb and effect is a noun.
The weather will affect our travel plans.
We observed the positive effect of the new training program.
The weather will effect our travel plans.
We observed the positive affect of the new training program.
See what I did there? The letters in bold, (i.e., those that altogether spell RAVEN), stands for ‘remember, affect is a verb and effect is a noun‘.
Since we know the proper word class, learning their correct use is simply a matter of connecting the dots. But first, let’s consult the dictionary definitions for “affect” and “effect“, and see some examples of them in sentences, (for illustrative purposes).
The meaning of ‘affect’ vs. ‘effect’
| Examples with “affect” | Examples with “effect” |
|---|---|
| I see how social media affects people, especially in their consumer behaviour. | The results show a statistically significant effect. |
- Affect [transitive verb] means, “to have an impact on (someone or something)”, or something capable of “producing change”. Affect can also describe being moved or touched emotionally.
- Effect is a noun that refers to an outcome, end result or change that someone/something else causes; as we see in the term, ‘cause and effect’. The Britannica Dictionary describes effect as, “a change that results when something is done or happens”.
Other forms of the word “affect”
| Part of speech | Word form |
|---|---|
| affect [verb] | How much a student studies will affect their grade point average. |
| affect [noun] | The young man’s facial expressions had a humorous affect. |
| affected [adjective] | He speaks in a rather affected voice. |
| affectedly [adverb] | She laughed affectedly. |
| affectation [noun] | His little affectations irritated her. |
Forms of the word “effect”
| Part of speech | Used in a sentence |
|---|---|
| effect [noun] | What are the long-term effects of this treatment? |
| effect [verb] | These drugs can sometimes effect miraculous cures. |
| effective [adjective] | Aspirin is a simple but highly effective treatment. |
| effectively [adverb] | You dealt with the situation very effectively. |
Usage: Affect/effect
| Sentences with the verb affect | Sentences with the noun effect |
|---|---|
|
An early frost in Florida can affect the orange crop negatively.
Smoking tobacco can permanently affect your lungs, and leads to cancer. Raising the minimum wage affects many people living in poverty. The couple was trying not to let their emotions affect their decision on whether to sell their house or not. |
We have to give the changes time to take effect.
The prescribed medication had a positive effect on the patient’s symptoms. The effects of climate change can be felt worldwide. A good night’s sleep has a positive effect on your day. |
Similar words
| Word | Synonyms |
|---|---|
| affect | impact, impress, influence, guide, sway, touch, alter, change, modify |
| effect | result, consequence, outcome, upshot, conclusion, reaction, end result, product |
Phrases with “effect”
- after-effect
- butterfly effect
- domino effect
- Doppler effect
- greenhouse effect
- knock-on
- network effect
- ripple effect
- side effect
Origin of the word effect/affect
The word effect derives from the Old French, effet, “execution or completion (of an act).” The word affect derives from the Latin, affectus, meaning “disposition, mood, state of mind or body produced by some external influence.” Its noun form also derives from the same Latin word.
RememberAffect is a Verb and Effect is a Noun using the RAVEN acronym.
Lesson in review: affect and effect
|
If you’re describing an action, choose affect. If you’re describing the outcome or result of an event or decision, choose effect. |
Read about other commonly confused words
Worksheet: Affect or effect?
The new law will ______ the entire community.
What will be the ______ of the new technology?
The medicine can ______ your mood.
He tried to ______ change, but nothing happened.
The new manager’s policies had a positive ______.
FAQs
Q: What is the main difference between affect and effect?
Q: How can I remember affect is a verb?
Q: When should I use the word affect?
Q: When should I use the word effect?
Q: Can you give an example of each word used correctly?
Sources
Yash, D. "How to Use Affect vs. Effect (Word Choice, Examples)." Grammarflex, Aug 24, 2025, https://grammarflex.com/effect-vs-affect/.
