Affect vs Effect
Easily confused and related in meaning, but not the same!
These two words are easily confused; they have a similar pronunciation and their meanings are related!
Let’s look at them in more detail.
Affect
/əˈfɛkt/
- Verb (in the active form): to have an influence on someone or something; to make a difference to someone or something;
The cold temperature affected me very badly today, I’m really sick!
It’s a disease that affects mainly newborns and toddlers.
The new rates will affect all consumers
- Verb (in the passive form): to be influenced emotionally by something; to be upset
Tom was deeply affected by the break-up (= he was upset)
The film on the Irish famine deeply affected me (=it caused strong feelings in me) - Noun: emotion (as used in psychology)
Depressed people usually display flat affect
Effect
/ɪˈfekt/
- Noun: the result of a particular influence
The Brexit vote had a disastrous effect on the value of the pound
Everyone knows the sun has a good effect on mood!
