The effect of the corona pandemic was very devastating. The virus can affect a healthy person instantly if he doesn’t follow social distancing procedures.
Are you confused about the usage of effect versus affect? These words are common in daily life. You can understand the meaning if you read them. The real problem arises when you’re trying to use them in a sentence. This is because they are both homophones; which means their sounds are identical. Their origin is also very close and so is their meaning. They are different parts of speech. Effect is the noun and affect is the verb. This is the standard. But there’s an interesting part, sometimes effect can be the verb and affect the noun which is also grammatically correct. Sound tricky? Let us help you in remembering how to use them effortlessly.
Effect vs affect – definitions and meanings
Definition of effect
Effect is a noun which means result or a consequence of an event because something happened and brought about a change. Even though the scale of the change can vary the most importing thing about using effect is when a change is associated with it. A common idiom is ‘in effect’ which could mean ‘in essence’ or ‘still operational’. Another similar idiom is ‘take effect’ which translates to ‘come into being’.
When effect is used as a verb it means to make something occur. This verb form is always accompanied by words like, ‘effect change into something’
Sentences of effect
- Effect as noun:
The effect of harmful gases is accelerating global warming.
This sentence means that as a result of hazardous gases the rate of global warming is increasing. If you want to verify the word’s correct usage, you can simply replace the word effect with result and the sentence should be fine.
- Effect as an idiom:
The child labor law is still in effect so you can’t hire any boy under the age of fifteen.
In this sentence the speaker is saying that the child labor law is still operational so he can’t hire anyone underage.
- Effect as a verb:
The NGO supporters wanted to effect change in the policies on industrial wastage disposal
This sentence means that some NGO supporters wanted to bring about a change in industrial policies.
Definition of affect
The verb affect means to modify or make a difference. It can also mean to evoke the feelings of. If you want to verify its correct usage then you can easily replace affect with a verb and the sentence should sound fine. When affect is used as a noun it means facial manifestations of an emotional response or to pretend. This type of usage is extremely rare and mostly associated with psychology.
Sentences of affect
- Affect as verb:
Fertilizers affect crop growth drastically.
This is a simple sentence that means the usage of fertilizers improves crop growth.
- Affect as verb:
His apology affected his mother who hugged him instantly.
This sentence is defining a scene between mother and son. The apology of her son moved her emotionally so she hugged him.
- Affect is noun:
When asked about his whereabouts during the crime scene, the criminal’s affect became violent.
This sentence means that during the case proceeding the criminal was questioned about his whereabouts during the crime scene because of which his facial expressions became fierce.
To sum it up remember one word ‘RAVEN.’ Each word signifies something important. It will help you memorize the difference between effect and affect.
- Remember
- Affect is
- Verb
- Effect is
- Noun
We hope we’ve done enough to solve your problem effectively.
