A single letter separates affect and effect, but that one letter makes a big difference. Here’s a quick explanation between the two words:
Affect is (usually*) a verb. It means to have an impact on something, to influence, or to produce a result. Here are some examples:
*I say “usually” because in obscure cases affect can be used as a noun, meaning an emotional response (“a blunted affect”). I rarely see this usage, however.
Effect is (usually**) a noun. It means a result or consequence, an influence. Here are some examples:
**I say “usually” because effect can also be used as a verb when it means “to bring about.” A typical phrase in this use case is when someone (usually a politician) talks about “effecting change.”
I know this can be complicated to wrap your head around, and I promise you’re not alone if it’s giving you trouble! I’ve found that a good trick for remembering the difference between the most common uses of affect and effect is this:
Affect begins with an A, and effect begins with an E. A comes before E in the alphabet, and you need to AFFECT something before you can have an EFFECT.
I hope that explanation is effective!
-Maria
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