Grammarama

Affect vs. Effect

The words affect and effect both have multiple definitions—each can serve as either a noun or a verb. For example, affect can be a verb that means to feign or to assume a certain appearance, or it can, on occasion, serve as a noun that indicates someone’s demeanor. You could say that someone who doesn’t express emotion has a bland or flat affect. The verb effect means to cause or produce—a person who wants to effect change in our society might enter into politics—and effect can also be used as a noun that refers to belongings, as in someone’s personal effect. However, the preceding definitions are rarely used. In most instances, we use affect as a verb that means to influence and effect as a noun that means a consequence, action, or impression. In this sense, something affects if it has an effect.


Examples:

The medication helped to cure my affliction, but it had many adverse side effects.
When you almost die, it affects your outlook on life
The new law takes effect next year.
Don’t let small-minded individuals affect what you believe.
Leonardo da Vinci used sfumato to great effect in The Mona Lisa.