Here is another way to remember when to use affect and effect:Ī is for action (affect) E is for end result (effect). There is one trick to help you use the right word in almost every case: the word RAVEN:

For example, “His sunburn was an effect of exposure to the sun.” Another way to say it is, “His sunburn was a result of exposure to the sun.” How to Remember the Difference between Affect and Effect What Does Effect Mean?Įffect is most commonly used as a noun, meaning “result” or “consequence.” One way to decide if effect is the correct word to use is to replace it with another noun. So, when you want to use a word to express a change or to describe an action, choose affect. “The cold weather damaged the crop.” “The music deeply moved him.” If you can substitute affect with another verb, you are using the right word: The verb affect can also mean “to impress the mind or move the feelings of,” as in “The music deeply affected him.” (The music changed his feelings or thoughts). (The cold weather produced a change in the crops.)

The verb affect means “to act on produce a change in” as in, “The cold weather affected the crops.” Generally, we use affect as a verb (an action word) and effect as a noun (an object word). Here is a basic guideline for affect or effect that can help clarify how to use the two words correctly:

It can be baffling to those whose first language is one other than English. This can be confusing to those whose first language is English. Both of these words are verbs and nouns and their meanings overlap.

I can have that effect or affect