Affect vs. Effect

Affect vs. Effect

by Nicole Kinney

​Affect

​

Use affect as a verb meaning “to influence or cause a change.” Remember ask yourself can IMPACT be substituted in place.

​

​

 Ex: How will this quiz affect my grade?

​

 Ex: The referee’s call affected the outcome of the game.

​

Multiple Choice

The word AFFECT can be substituted with...

• result

• impact

• afffect

• cause

​Effect

​

Use effect as a noun meaning “a result.”

​

 Ex: Eating vegetables regularly will have a positive effect on your health.

​

Ex: The movie’s soundtrack had a powerful effect on my emotions.

Multiple Choice

The word EFFECT can be substituted with...

• result

• impact

• afffect

• cause

​Mnemonic Device

​

Remember,

Affect is a

Verb

Effect is a 

Noun

Multiple Choice

Which of the two commonly confused words is a noun?

• affect

• effect

Multiple Choice

The weather will ______ what I wear.

• affect

• effect

​Why?

​In this case, the weather will have an influence on what the speaker is wearing. For that reason we use the word affect.

Multiple Choice

The ______of the rain is that I must wear a raincoat.

• affect

• effect

​Why?

​In this case the result of the rain is that the speaker has to wear a raincoat. This is why we use the word effect.

​Let's Practice

Multiple Choice

Your daily efforts ______ your final grade.

• affects

• effects

Multiple Choice

Did his leaving have any ______ on you?

• affect

• effect

​Remember

​

A is for action. Verbs are about action. Affect starts with an A, so it’s a verb.

Multiple Choice

The amount of sleep you get at night will ______ your energy level throughout the day.

• affect

• effect

Multiple Choice

The company hopes its new toothpaste commercials will have a positive _______ on sales.

• affect

• effect

​Remember

​

Think of the common phrase cause and effect. Cause ends with an E, and effect begins with an E. So not only does a cause lead to an effect, but also cause’s E leads to effect’s E.

Multiple Choice

The woman took the news of her husband's death with little _____.

• affect

• effect

Multiple Choice

What _____ did the loss have on the team?

• affect

• effect

Multiple Choice

Which commonly confused word is a verb?

• affect

• effect

Multiple Choice

The new principal is bound to _____ positive changes in the office.

• affect

• effect

Multiple Choice

My mood can ____ my thinking.

• affect
• effect

Multiple Choice

Falling on my head had a bad _____  on my memory.

• affect
• effect

Multiple Choice

In order to have a positive _____ on your future, be on the Academic Pentathlon team today!

• Affect
• Effect

Multiple Choice

With glue and paste, Asher molded his hair into the shape of a parrot.  This ______________________ his head because birds tend to nest there frequently.

• effected
• affected

Multiple Choice

When he styles his chest hair, Joshua has a great _____________________ on the ladies.

• affect
• effect

Multiple Choice

If you give a baby beans, the ________ could be quite messy.

• Affect
• Effect

Multiple Choice

Justin's lunch had a negative ______________on his stomach. After all, twelve beefsteaks, a cheesecake, a pancake, and two pitted prunes are bound to ______________________ his system.

• effect/effect
• affect/affect
• effect/affect
• affect/affect

​Good luck on your Summative!