Effect versus Affect

‘Effect’ and ‘Affect’ are the most frequently looked up terms in the dictionary till date. The confusion in Effect versus Affect is not surprising; it is a very common confusion since both these words can be used as both a noun and a verb. Their meanings overlap too and that is why most people get mixed up in the usage.

Affect

It means to do something or have an influence on something while ‘Effect’ means to make or carry out.
E.g. How will this affect your health?

Effect

It is commonly used as a noun meaning the result or impact of something, an outcome. If there’s “a/an/the” in front of it, it’s an effect.

E.g. The effect of working on a computer for long hours.

The difference between the two words is so slippery that people have started using the word ‘Impact’ instead. Another trick is to remember that affect comes first alphabetically, and an action (to affect) has to occur before you can have a result (an effect).