Affect and Effect

Affect and effect are two of the most commonly confused words in the English language.  

Affect, beginning with the letter A, used a verb that means to produce a change or influence something. For example, The new law will affect the way businesses operate. 

An example of using affect as a noun, is, The weather's sudden change had a noticeable affect on the crops.

Effect, beginning with the letter E, used as a noun that refers to the change or result produced by a particular influence. For example, The effect of the new law on businesses is not yet clear.

An example of using effect as a verb, is, The new policy will effect significant changes in the company's operations.

Remembering the differences between the words affect and effect is tricky, but here are some tips to help you.

Affect is commonly used as a verb, meaning to influence or have an impact on something. On the other hand, effect is less frequently used as a verb, but it means to bring about or cause something to happen.

Affect is typically used as an action done by a subject to affect an object or person, while  effect is often used as a result or consequence of an action.

A mnemonic is to remember that affect starts with an A like action or active. This will remind you that affect is usually used as a verb to denote an action or influence.

It is more common to see affect used as a verb, while effect is more commonly used as a noun. However, both words are used as both nouns and verbs.

Understanding the context and intended meaning of the sentence will also help you differentiate between the two words.

If the sentence is describing a direct action or influence, affect is the correct choice.

If the sentence is expressing a result or outcome, effect is the appropriate word.

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