Affect vs. Effect: What’s the Difference?

The words affect and effect are often confused because they look and sound similar. However, they have different meanings and uses in English. Let’s break them down to make them easier to understand.

1. Affect (verb)

Affect is usually a verb. It means "to influence or cause a change." Think of it as an action—something is being changed.

• Example 1: The rainy weather affects my mood.
  (The weather influences how I feel.)
• Example 2: How will this decision affect the outcome?
  (How will it influence the result?)

Tip: If you’re talking about an action, like influencing or changing something, use affect.

2. Effect (noun)

Effect is usually a noun. It means "the result or outcome of a change."

• Example 1: The new rule had a positive effect on student behavior.
  (The rule caused an improvement.)
• Example 2: The movie’s special effects were amazing!
  (The visuals created an impressive result.)

Tip: If you’re talking about the result of an action, use effect. You can often replace effect with result to check if it fits.

Quick Trick to Remember

• Affect = Action (verb)
• Effect = End result (noun)

Practice questions