When to use ‘affect’ vs. ‘effect’?

Here is a detailed explanation of when to use affect vs effect:

Affect: (verb) – to influence or have an effect on

Used when talking about how something influences or produces a change in something else.

Examples:

• The new product will affect sales.
• The weather affected our plans for the picnic.
• The medicine will hopefully affect a positive change in his condition.

Effect: (noun) – a change or result that comes about due to an action or event (verb) - to cause or bring about

As a noun, it refers to something that is created as a result of an action.

Examples:

• The new policy had a positive effect on the economy.
• There were many unintended effects from the experiment.

As a verb, it means to cause or bring about.

Examples:

• The new CEO hopes to effect major changes in the company.
• The reporter intended to effect change through his stories.

So in summary:

Use affect as a verb when talking about how something influences or produces a change in something else.

Use effect as a noun to refer to a result or change that comes about as a consequence of an action.

Use effect as a verb to mean to cause or bring about.

Some examples to compare:

• The new medicine will affect/effect a change in his symptoms.

Here affect is correct because it refers to how the medicine will influence or produce a change in his symptoms.

• The new policy had a positive affect/effect.

Here effect is correct because it refers to the result or change that came about due to the policy.

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