The words affect and effect are similar enough to confuse writers sometimes. Luckily, writing software like ProWritingAid can catch these misused homophones in real time and help writers correct them.
Generally, affect is a noun and effect is a verb, although there are exceptions. Knowing the difference between these two verbs can make your writing clearer and more effective.
Definitions
One of the most confusing homophones in English, affect and effect have very different definitions. While it may seem obvious that these words have separate meanings and different roles in a sentence, they are often confused because of their similar pronunciation. The trick to remembering the difference is that affect ends with an a and is always a verb, while effect begins with an e and is usually a noun.
For example, you could say that Ruby (affect) pushed Raphael (effect) into the water, but you wouldn’t say that she effected Raphael (verb). It’s important to note that there are some cases where effect can be used as a noun, such as when a group of protesters seeks to affect change in a corrupt government.
To keep these tricky words straight, follow Grammar Girl’s helpful tips in her New York Times best-selling book, Quick and Dirty Words: A Guide to Using the Right Word at the Right Time. You can find the book at your local library or wherever e-books are sold.
Confusion
Keeping affect and effect straight is a common challenge for many people. These homophones sound similar, they’re used in the same contexts, and each can function as both a verb and a noun.
Fortunately, there’s a pretty simple trick to remembering the difference between these two words: “Affect starts with A, and effect also begins with A.” This mnemonic is helpful because it helps remind you that affect is usually a verb and that effect is often a noun.
Another way to keep this distinction in mind is by remembering that effect is a noun that shows the result of something. For example, the loud noises had a calming effect on the child. On the other hand, you could say that the acne medication had a nasty effect on Leroy’s face. This is because the -ed ending indicates that the effect is the outcome of the medication. The -ing in affect, on the other hand, shows that the effect is ongoing and not necessarily instantaneous.
Exceptions
In writing, it takes a lot of time, effort and resources to conduct research and produce a manuscript. Having grammatical errors in your article can hurt its overall quality and even relegate it to the desk rejection pile. These mistakes can also tarnish your reputation as an author. One of the most common errors is mixing up affect and effect. Luckily, there are a few handy mnemonic tricks to help you remember the difference.
The easiest trick is to remember that affect starts with an A and effect begins with a E. In addition, remember that affect is a verb and shows action while effect is a noun showing a result. Occasionally, you may hear someone use effect as a verb but it’s not common. For example, he effected change at the office by implementing a series of policies. He effected the outcome of these changes but didn’t cause them to happen. This is an exception to the rule but a useful mnemonic to have on hand.
Examples
There are times when the nouns affect and effect switch roles, but these instances are fairly rare. It would not be the English language if this did not happen!
In general, remember that the verb affect starts with A and the noun effect ends in E. A popular mnemonic that people use to remember this difference is RAVEN: Remember Affect is a Verb, Effect is an End Result.
Affect can also function as a noun when it refers to an observable display of emotion or feeling. This usage is more common in psychology and medical fields. For example, a young man might describe how his husband’s death had a devastating effect on him. In these cases, the noun is more appropriate than a verb. In addition, when effect is used as a noun, it is always preceded by the article an or the. This is an easy hint that you’re using the correct word.