Grammar Basics: Affect vs. Effect

The words affect and effect are often confused for each other because they are what we call near homophones, words that sound nearly the same but have different meanings and spellings.

Affect vs. Effect
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Affect

Affect is mostly used as a verb that means "to act on or change someone or something". You usually use it when you're describing an action that impacts or influences someone or something else.

Examples    

• Don't let the bad weather affect your mood too much.

    = Don't let the bad weather change your mood too much.

• The virus affects only men.

    = The virus impacts only men.

Effect

Effect is mostly used as a noun that means "a change that results when something is done or happens". You usually use it when you are referring to a result or outcome of a change or action.

Examples

• Receiving an F on the test had a bad effect on his behavior.

    = Receiving an F on the test had a bad outcome on his behavior.

• A common effect of lack of sleep is drowsiness.

    = A common result of lack of sleep is drowsiness.

How do you know whether to use affect or effect?

If you are using the word as a verb that does an action, then use affect.

If you are using the word as a noun that means result or outcome, then use effect.

A quick mnemonic can also be used to help you remember which word to use: 

"A is for Action, and E is for End Result".

• Affect starts with the letter A and is a verb that describes an action.
• Effect starts with the letter E and is a noun that means an end result.

Use the mnemonic to help you decide if you're talking about an action or its outcome.

Another way to check whether you used the right word is with the substitution method below:

• If the sentence makes sense after you substitute the word with influence, impact, or change, then use affect.
• If the sentence makes sense after you substitute the word with result or outcome, then use effect.

Are there more meanings and usages of affect and effect?

There are additional meanings for both affect and effect, including noun usages for affect and verb usages for effect; however, as these usages are rarer, this post will focus on only the previously explained usages. 

I recommend using either Merriam-Webster Dictionary and/or Oxford English Dictionary to look up these additional meanings and usages.

Still have questions? Ask them in the comments section below.