How to Use Affect and Effect Correctly

The misuse of "affect" and "effect" might be one of the most common usage errors in the English language. Sometimes readers do not even notice the error because the two words sound the same. The similarity in definitions adds to the confusion. Follow these steps to get it right.

Instructions

1. Classify "affect" as a verb. It is defined as "producing a change; causing an effect and eliciting an emotional response." Some examples of its usage are "The poem affected her profoundly" and "The frost negatively affected crops."

2. Categorize "effect" as a noun. It is defined as "a consequence; a result; a desired impression or a phenomenon." Examples of the word usage include, "The drought had a negative effect on crops" and "My letter of complaint had no effect."

3. Edit your writing for proper usage of "effect" and "affect" by looking for easy-to-spot clues. Because "effect" is a noun and not a verb, it should never end with -ing or -ed. "Affect" must be connected somehow to the subject of the sentence because it is a verb and will be the verb in the predicate of the sentence in most cases.

4. Remember the proper usage for "affect" and "effect" by using this simple mnemonic device: a very easy noun. It stands for "affect verb, effect noun."