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Affect and effect are two English words with very similar meanings, and very similar pronunciations. Though not actually homophones, the sound of the words is similar enough to cause most people confusion.

The word EFFECT is normally a noun meaning a change or result.

"These changes had a positive effect." "What is the effect of population growth?" "Drinking alcohol can have a bad effect on your health."

The word AFFECT is normally a verb meaning to influence or alter.

"These changes may affect your family." "How does population growth affect us?" "Studying should positively affect your grades."

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However, these words can actually be used both as verbs and nouns.

As verbs: The word "affect" means to modify something in some way; to have an impact on something. The word "effect" means cause or bring into existence.

Examples :

Large numbers of sub-prime mortgage can effect a global financial crisis.

(they can create one)

Alcohol use will affect higher brain functions.

(it doesn't cause them; it modifies them)

As nouns: an "effect" can be anything that is caused or modified. It is thus correct to talk about "effects of alcohol" as lower brain function. As a noun, affect (pronounced AFFect) means the outward appearance of a person's mental state,

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Q: What is the difference between effect and affect?
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Can you Explain affect and effect like you would to a five year old?

The basic difference? The words are very similar and have their roots in the same place and so the difference is tiny. Affect is used to mean to cause a change in something - it can cause an Effect. I affect the ozone when I drive my car. Effect is used to mean the change caused in something - it is what happens to something when it is affected The effect on the ozone is that it is damaged. I affect the ozone, the ozone is affected. The effect I have is that the ozone is damaged, the effect of my actions. Is that okay? And are you actually trying to explain it to a five year old? Because I wouldn't bother, it tends to be one of those words people can use correctly but don't know why they use it when they do or don't. Hope it helped, Acey~Nz I would add that "affect" is almost always used as a verb and "effect" as a noun.


What is the difference between the words affect and effect?

AFFECT is normally a verb, and means "to influence or change."EFFECT is normally a noun, and means the result, consequence, or change that is made.Examples:How does population growth affect us? VERBStudying should positively affect your grades. VERBWhat is the effect of population growth? NOUNDrinking alcohol can have a bad effect on your health. NOUNIf the word is a noun, use "effect." The word affect will almost always be used as an action verb. The word effect can also be a verb, very rarely but obviously used, meaning to cause. (e.g. This law may effect a basic change to our policy.)The sound of the words provides a good way to remember the most common usage:If the word follows "the," then emphasize the long "e" sound in the words "the" and "effect," and say "the effect of....". The effect of drinking too much alcohol is often a hangover". Otherwise, use "affect," as in "alcohol affects health." In this case, the "a" in "affects" is pronounced like "uh".There are some exceptions, for example in psychology a person's "affect," referring to his/her emotional presentation, is a noun. "He has a flat affect." In that case, the "a" is pronounced like the vowel sound in "laugh".


How does the difference between the character's spoken words and internal thoughts affect the story?

It creates dramatic tension.


A sentence for affect?

(effect is usually a noun, affect is normally a verb) "One effect of the new law is a rule that may affect water consumption." "We know that one effect of radiation is mutation, which can affect the offspring of an organism."


What is the difference between affected and effected?

Affect is a normally a verb.It means to influence, change (as a result), touch, move (a person's feelings).(It also has a second, much less common meaning - to pretend.)Effect can be either a verb or a noun, but is normally a noun.The noun effect means means result (noun), aftermath.The verb to effect means to bring about, cause.Examples:Most taxpayers will be affected by the latest tax changes.The music affected their mood.She effected several important changes when she was CEO.The law effected a modification in their legal status.*Effect will always have a direct object meaning change. Otherwise use affect.

Related questions

Difference between influence and affect?

"Influence" refers to the ability to have an impact on someone or something, while "affect" typically refers to the emotional or psychological impact that something has on a person. Influence implies a more active role in shaping outcomes, whereas affect focuses on the response or reaction to an influence.


How does matter affect your life?

Affect matters in my life because I always have to remember the difference between affect and effect, which is one of the tricky aspects of English.


What are the difference between affect and effect?

Simply put, affect means to impact on or influence. For example, “The snow affected the traffic.” Effect is usually a noun. Simply put, effect means a result or outcome.


What is the difference between a side effect and a residual effect?

nothing


What is the difference between inotropic and cronotropic effect?

the difference between inotropic and cronotropic is.. Inotropic and CROnotropic


What is the difference between sowing and planting?

The treatment effect is the difference between the observed outcome and the "normal" outcome


What the difference between a pie and tartlet?

The treatment effect is the difference between the observed outcome and the "normal" outcome


How does specialization affect trades between regions?

it affect by the difference mrs petras


How does gravity effect the stars?

Please check the difference between the words "affect" and "effect". In this case, it should be "affect". Gravity keeps the stars together in the first place. It compresses them so much that they become hot and dense in their cores; enough so to start nuclear fusion.


what is the difference between ignorance ang apathy?

The treatment effect is the difference between the observed outcome and the "normal" outcome


Affect is to effect as influence is to what?

Cause. The relationship between affect and effect is similar to the relationship between influence and cause. Influence has the power to bring about a certain outcome or result, just as cause does.


How do interactions of matter affect your life?

It affects your daily life because it is in everything you use. Its in your chair, table, bed, water, tv, everything.