Effect or affect: do you know the difference?
Simple tips to remember the difference between EFFECT and AFFECT
EFFECT and AFFECT are easy to confuse and often spelled wrong.
The fact that the two words sound the same – they’re homophones – means people commonly mix them up.
Here are my simple tips to remember the difference between EFFECT and AFFECT.
AFFECT is a verb that means alter or influence. Think A for alter.
“The rain AFFECTS my hair.”
EFFECT is most commonly a noun meaning the result of something. Think E for end result.
“The EFFECT of the rain is wet hair.”
Advanced lesson
That cheeky little ‘most commonly’ above? EFFECT can also, rarely be used as a verb, to mean ‘bring something about’.
“The voting was rigged to EFFECT the victory.”
EFFECT as a verb is rarely written outside of formal English, so you’re fairly safe to assume you won’t need this spelling.
Get more tips in The Little Book of Confusables
EFFECT vs AFFECT. Excerpt from The Little Book of Confusables by Sarah Townsend.
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