Affect vs. effect

What does affect mean?

Affect is a verb which means to influence or have an effect on something. Affect can also mean to pretend to have a feeling or manner.

For example:

·      She was visibly affected by the accident.

·      She is great at affecting an Australian accent.

What does effect mean?

Effect is a noun which means a change resulting from an action, event, occurrence or other cause. Effect can occasionally be used as a verb meaning to cause something to happen.

For example:

·      Eating chocolate can have a calming effect.

·      She effected many changes as CEO.

What’s the difference between affect and effect?

Affect is a verb meaning to influence or have an affect on something, while effect is a noun meaning a change resulting from an action. While effect can also be a verb, it’s likely the word you’re looking for is affected.

For example:

·      The study showed that all participants were affected by the calming effect of chocolate.