Affect vs. Effect: Which One Is Correct?

Affect and effect are two commonly confused words. They sound similar, and they can both be used as nouns or verbs. But there is a subtle difference between the two words.

Affect is usually used as a verb, and it means to cause something to change. For example, "The weather affected my mood." Effect is usually used as a noun, and it means the result of a change. For example, "The effect of the weather on my mood was significant."

There are a few exceptions to this rule. Affect can also be used as a noun, but this is usually in psychology or medicine. And effect can also be used as a verb, but this is usually in legal or scientific contexts.

Here are some examples of how to use affect and effect in a sentence:

• The weather affected my mood.

• The effect of the weather on my mood was significant.

• The new law will affect the way businesses operate.

• The effect of the new law is still unknown.

• The doctor said that my injury would affect my ability to walk.

• The effect of my injury is that I can no longer walk without pain.

• The company's new marketing campaign is expected to affect sales.

• The effect of the company's new marketing campaign is yet to be seen.

So, how can you remember the difference between affect and effect? Here are a few tips:

• Affect starts with an A, and action starts with A.

• Effect starts with an E, and end result starts with E.

If you're still not sure which word to use, try using impact instead. Impact is a more general word that can be used as a verb or a noun.