How to Know When to Use "Effect" vs "Affect" in a Sentence

The words effect and affect are commonly misused in the English language. Affect is usually used as a verb, and effect as a noun. The easiest way to remember the difference is to think of "affect" as something that happens to someone or something. Effect is a result of some other act.

Instructions

1. When writing, ask yourself "what am I trying to say." If you are trying to say that something was caused as a result of some action, use "effect." For example, the sentence "The drug had an immediate effect on the pain" says the pain was reduced as a "result" of the drug.

2. When using "affect," ask yourself if the sentence shows the person was moved or persuaded by something. "The snow affected John's sinuses" says the snow changed something about John.

3. Use affect as a noun if you are writing about psychology. According to Grammar Girl, psychologists prefer that because you can only appear to know what someone is feeling. So treatment may have a happy affect on the subject. Use effect as a verb if it means to bring about or accomplish something. So, you would write "Gina hoped to effect momentum with her ace block" instead of "Gina hoped to affect momentum with her ace block."

Tips & Warnings

• When in doubt Google it.

• Check out Grammar Girl for fun ways to remember the rules of Grammar.

References

• Grammar Girl: Affect Versus Effect