Affect vs. Effect

Affect (verb) means “to influence or cause a change,” while effect (noun) means “a result or outcome of an action or event.”

Affect is typically used as a verb.

The bad weather affected my mood.
His illness affects the way he speaks.
Good habits will affect your overall health and well-being positively.

Effect is typically used as a noun.

The new law had a negative effect on the economy.
The air freshener had no effect on the stench in the kitchen.
The anesthesia began to take effect.

Rare instances

While affect is typically used as a verb and effect is usually used as a noun, there are rare instances when affect is used as a noun and effect as a verb.

Here are some example sentences of relatively rare uses of the words.

Affect used as a noun:

The patient’s affect was extremely volatile, which suggested a possible mood disorder.
She always had a cheerful affect despite everything she has been through.
The man’s affect was always flat, and his demeanor was stoic and rather banal.

Effect used as a verb:

The new administration will effect a change in the organization’s politics.
The classical music effected improvements in the students’ test-taking skills.
The new CEO hoped her new plan would effect an increase of profits for the company.

References:

Rare instances

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