Affect vs Effect
What's the difference?
These two sound almost identical, which is exactly why they get mixed up. The good news: a single rule sorts out nearly every sentence.
Quick answer
Affect is usually a verb (to influence something); effect is usually a noun (the result). If you can put "the" or "an" in front of it, you want effect.
Compared side by side
(verb) to influence something or make a change to it.
- “The cold weather affected our travel plans.”
- “Nothing seemed to affect his good mood.”
- “How will this decision affect the team?”
(noun) the result or consequence of a change.
- “The new law had an immediate effect.”
- “We're still seeing the effects of the storm.”
- “The medicine had no effect on her headache.”
How to remember it
Remember RAVEN: Affect = Verb, Effect = Noun. That covers almost every everyday sentence.
Frequently asked
Can "effect" ever be a verb?
Yes, rarely. To "effect" change means to bring it about — "The manager effected several changes." In everyday writing, though, effect is almost always the noun.
Can "affect" be a noun?
Only as a psychology term meaning visible emotion ("a flat affect"). For normal use, treat affect as the verb.
What's an easy example to remember?
"The cold affected her voice" (verb, an action) versus "The cold had an effect on her voice" (noun, the result).