The verb ‘affect’ means to influence (his methods had a significant impact on me), but it also means to feign (he had a significant impact on nonchalance). Is it going to have an impact on me or not? Consider this mnemonic device if you need assistance remembering: the action is affect, and the end result is effect.

There are some exceptions, but stick to the rule when you’re in doubt. What is the best way to use affect or effect?Īs a result, the basic rule of thumb is that “affect” is almost always a verb, while “effect” is usually a noun.

People have started using “impact” as a verb because the distinction between affect and effect is so obvious.ĭid the cold have an effect on you or did it affect you? As in, “the cold weather affected the crops,” the verb affect means “to act on produce an effect or change in,” as in “it produced a change in the crops likely killing them.” So, if you’re looking for impact when using one of these two terms to express an action, you’re probably looking for it. It is the correct word to use here because effect means “influence” in this sentence.Īlso, what do I mean when I say “effect on people”? Most of the time, you’ll use affect as a verb that means “to influence something” and “to effect” for the thing that was influenced. “Affect” or “produce a change in” means “to influence.” A verb that “produces a change” is the “change” or “result,” while a noun is the “change” or “result.” As a noun, an example of effect is given. The word “effect” means “the result of an influence,” and the pollution in the city had a negative impact on me. Is this a negative effect on someone or does it have an impact on them?Īffect is a verb that means “to influence or cause someone or something to change” new technologies continue to have an impact on how we live. The noun is ‘effect,’ which means’result’ (which has made him proud) or ‘influence (which has had such an impact on me).

Have an effect or affect on someone