These two words are perhaps the most confused and misused in the English language. Without getting bogged down with which is a noun and which is a verb – and the exceptions to the rules – here you’ll find some simple tips to remember the difference between these words and how they should be used in day-to-day language.

Affect

To cause a change, provoke an emotion, or take on a change:

• The medicine may affect his behaviour over time.
• His advice affected the way they viewed their policy.
• The bad weather will undoubtedly affect the outcome of the game.
• She was deeply affected by the speech.
• He affected a limp to gain sympathy from his friends.

EFFECT

To result in a change:

• The medicine effected a gradual change in his behaviour.
• His advice effected a change to their policy.
• The outcome of the game was a direct effect of the poor weather.
• The speech was used with great effect to move the crowd to tears.
• His limp did not produce the effect he was looking for.

How to tell if you have it right

Try replacing affect with words like:

change
modify
shape
alter
influence
move
touch
stir
impress
take on
simulate

Try replacing effect with words like:

outcome
end result
conclusion
bearing
bring about
cause
result
consequence
reaction
produced
issue

If your sentence no longer makes sense, you haven’t used the right word. Try substituting these words in the examples above to see how it works.

Remember: AFFECT = Change / EFFECT = Result of change

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