Did someone’s actions effect you or did it affect you? Is your mood the affect of the weather or is it the effect of the weather? Should you be affected by these confusing sentences or should you be effected?
No matter how long you've been speaking and writing in English, you might still sometimes find yourself confusing the words AFFECT and EFFECT. So here's a quick infographic to help you determine which one to use.
(Format: Two columns labeled AFFECT and EFFECT)
AFFECT
- often used as a verb
- meaning: to produce change in or influence something
Examples:
I wonder how eating a boatload of garlic will affect my date tonight.
(Graphic: Man on a date digging into an entire bulb of garlic or some garlic-filled food)
I don't think this hot sauce will affect me at all!
(Graphic: holding a bottle of Carolina Reaper hot sauce with lots of flames and warnings on the label)
Note: This graphic was inspired by this http://formalsweatpants.com/comic/the-hot-one/
EFFECT
- often used as a noun
- meaning: an event that means a change has happened
Examples:
My choice of appetizer didn't have a desirable effect on my date.
(Graphic: The man's breath wafting in the air and making his date look extremely uncomfortable [something like this expression: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/a4/a7/69/a4a769fecc9a16bddb3d5a0fe40fa913.jpg])
Who would have thought this hot sauce would have such an effect on me?
(Graphic: Man on the toilet obviously having a hard time. If that's too risque, then a door with a DO NOT DISTURB sign would do)
As a quick rule of thumb, if you’re looking for a VERB, use AFFECT. If you’re looking for a NOUN, use EFFECT.
Now
