Affect vs Effect
Don’t let the differences between affect and effect boggle your brain.
Affect is usually a verb.
Simply put, affect means to impact on or influence.
For example, “The snow affected the traffic.”
Effect is usually a noun.
Simply put, effect means a result or outcome.
For example, “I love coffee, the effect is amazing!”
Want to remember the difference?
Affect with an A is an Action.
Effect with an E is an End-result.
Okay so I see this. No one is wrong or right it’s just how my mental sees this. Your example:
“The snow affected the traffic.” Meaning the snow impacted or influenced the traffic, so the “effect” of the snow (end result) is how the traffic is now operating due to the snow… Correct? The definitely go hand in hand I think.
“I love coffee, the (effect) is amazing.” Is that not an action pertaining to feeling overall? Just asking. Great points and ways to stimulate the mental on the topic. Thank you.
You and I suffer from the same issue, we over think things.
Correct and correct Tonya. If I affect something, I cause an effect.
– Rob
Thanks for this remembering tips like A action, E end result
I feel that this is a great example of the two words. Thank you for the explanation of these two different words and their meanings.
Thank you! This is the easiest way to remember the difference affect and effect that I have seen.
Can changing the sentence slightly, change the overall effect of affect or effect in these sentences?
“The snow affected the traffic.”
Or if put… The traffic was greatly effected by the snow.?
“I love coffee, the effect is amazing!”
Or if put… I love how coffee affects me, it’s amazing!
These two words in the English language have always haunted me but this is a great way to remember. Thanks
Hi Matt,
The second example works fine, since we’re switching from noun to verb. We can see this via word substitution. If we swap ‘effect’ for ‘flavour,’ the sentence still makes grammatical sense, since here ‘effect’ is the noun. In the second sentence, the sentence no longer makes sense with ‘flavours,’ so we know that a verb is needed, hence ‘affect.’
In the first example, we want ‘affected’ both times, since both sentences use it as a verb. Again, with word substitution, we can swap in ‘slowed,’ a verb, which works grammatically, showing that the verb ‘affect’ is needed both times. In a sentence like ‘The snow has had a startling effect on the traffic,’ we can see that ‘slowed’ would no longer make sense, and so we need the ‘effect’ noun form.
The example I use when working is ‘kicked.’ If I can swap ‘kicked’ or ‘kick’ in and it makes sense, I need ‘affect.’ If not, ‘effect.’ Obviously, this is in terms of grammar, rather than logic.
Best,
Rob
Best way I’ve seen it explained and understood it.
And makes it sensible and easy to remember. GREAT!!
Thank you for the simple answer! I used to think I was ok at grammar & punctuation; I’m learning all over again.
I’m still confused. I wrote, basically, I neglected to add a code the second time on a store order purchase and I asked, “Will my mistake, not adding the promo code the second time ” effect” the ultimate price”??
Well I can’t help see how, using your example, they aren’t both acceptable.
Please help me!!!
Hi Buzz,
One trick I’d suggest is to add the adverb ‘drastically’ before ‘affect/effect’. Adverbs only apply to verbs, so if this sounds right, you want ‘affect’, and if it sounds wrong you want ‘effect’.
‘Will my mistake, not adding the promo code the second time, drastically affect the ultimate price?’ makes sense, so it’s ‘affect’.
In contrast, take the sentence, ‘Will not adding the promo code the second time have an a/effect?’
‘Will not adding the promo code the second time have a drastically affect?’ doesn’t make sense, so it’s ‘effect’.
Best,
Rob
Holy Cow! How about we just remove one of these words from our English language and use the other for both meanings considering they are so hard to understand. I’m still confused after reading all these comments.
I am right with you Holly. I have a college degree and still have issues with these words. Urgh…..I have a mental disability called….overthinkingitise. lol
Hi Holli,
That’s something that often happens naturally when words cause more trouble than they’re worth. In the US, the tendency is to just use the word ‘practice,’ however it’s meant, but in other English-speaking countries, the word is written ‘practise’ when used as a verb and ‘practice’ when used as a noun.
These tend to be battlegrounds for prescriptive grammarians (those who want to enforce set rules of language) and descriptive grammarians (those who want to chronicle grammar as it is used). What gets kept and what gets tossed aside tends to depend on how insistently people are willing to argue. That would imply that, somewhere out there, there are some truly ardent effect/affect fans keeping the difference alive. We talk more about the opposing views of grammar in the article below:
The Word ‘They’ Can Improve How You Self-Edit
Best,
Rob