“Affect” vs. “Effect”: What’s the Difference?

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The difference between “affect” and “effect”

  • "Affect" is typically used as a verb, while "effect" is usually used as a noun.
  • "Affect" (verb) means to influence, while "effect" (noun) means an outcome of an event.
  • "Affect" means to cause change, while "effect" means a result of an action or situation.
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What is the definition of “affect” and “effect”?

Affect
  • "Affect" as a verb refers to the influence or impact of something on another thing.
  • As a noun, it can also describe a person's emotional or behavioral response to an event or situation.
  • "Affect" is more commonly used as a verb than a noun.
Effect
  • "Effect" means the result or outcome of an action, event, or circumstance.
  • It can also refer to the power or ability of something to produce an outcome or impact.
  • "Effect" is more commonly used as a noun than a verb.

Which is the more popular variant on the Internet?

“Effect” is the more popular variant on the web.
Affect
2,140,000,000 results on the web
Examples
  1. The news of the accident really affected his mood for the entire day.
  2. The new medication seemed to positively affect her symptoms.
  3. The therapist wanted to know how the divorce affected his mental health.
More popular
Effect
2,780,000,000 results on the web
Examples
  1. The effect of the storm left the city without power for several days.
  2. The new law will have a significant effect on small businesses.
  3. Her effort in studying had a great effect on her final grades.
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