What is the difference between affect and effect in English

Confusing English Words – Affect v Effect

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Confusing English Words

Affect v Effect

 

What is the difference between affect and effect in English?

Affect (verb) to change or influence something. If something affects something else, it has an effect on it.

Examples:

Did the newspapers really affect the outcome of the election?

New technologies continue to affect how we live.

Effect (noun) – the result of an influence.

Examples:

Any change in lifestyle will have an effect on your health.

Scientists are studying the chemical’s effect on the environment.

 

Effect can also be used as a verb.

Effect (verb) – to achieve something and cause it to happen: As a political party they are trying to effect a change in the way that we think about the economy.

 

Phrases with effect.

To be in effect – to be active or being used:  A total ban on smoking in public buildings was in effect before I was born.

To come into effect / take effect – to start working or being used: New sales taxes will come into effect/take effect next year.

In effect – in fact, or in practice: The new regulations mean that, in effect, the company will be allowed to continue to trade as usual.

Put/bring sth into effect – to start using something or making it work: Our goal is to develop new management practices and put them into effect.
With immediate effect – used to describe a change that happens immediately:  He resigned as CEO with immediate effect.
With effect from – from a particular date: We are changing our returns policy with effect from the 1st January.
Effects (plural noun) – A person’s personal belongings: After our father’s death, we donated most of his effects to charity.

 

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