# Affect? Effect? What's the difference? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 24, 2003, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/affect-effect-whats-the-difference/203617 "2003-09-24T19:46:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Beastal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Beastal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beastal)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2003, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/affect-effect-whats-the-difference/203617/1 "2003-09-24T19:46:45Z")
According to [dictionary.com](http://dictionary.com), effect is a noun, affect is a transitive verb. I didn’t know what a transitive verb was, so I looked it up: > [@](#): > > A transitive verb is a verb that is followed by a direct object or an indirect object and a direct object. Which cleared things up nicely. 😕 Can someone please explain to me the difference between effect and affect? And when we should use either? With examples? [Dictionary.com](http://Dictionary.com) uses the word ‘effect’ in ‘affect’s’ definition, which hasn’t helped me. Thank you. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2003, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/affect-effect-whats-the-difference/203617/2 "2003-09-24T19:49:30Z")
Affect is a verb. Effect is a noun. This will not affect my decision. This will not have an effect on my decision. Haj ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2003, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/affect-effect-whats-the-difference/203617/3 "2003-09-24T19:53:08Z")
Affect: “I kicked the attacker in the leg, but it did not affect him at all.” (If I’m using it right, the direct object is “him”.) or “The news of his mother’s death affected him very strongly.” (“him”, again) Effect: “Kicking the attacker had no effect.” also “The movie had some great special effects.” In psychology, the word “affect” can be used as a noun, essentially as a synonym for “emotion.” Psychologists or doctors sometimes refer to a patient as having “blunted affect” or something similar, meaning little to no obvious emotional response. You will only rarely run into this usage unless you study those fields, though. ---
**Author:** ![Faldage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Faldage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Faldage)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2003, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/affect-effect-whats-the-difference/203617/4 "2003-09-24T19:56:01Z")
Not to mention that effect can also be a verb. To affect something is to change it. To effect something is to cause it. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2003, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/affect-effect-whats-the-difference/203617/5 "2003-09-24T19:58:28Z")
You see, it is possible to affect an effect, but not the other way around. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2003, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/affect-effect-whats-the-difference/203617/6 "2003-09-24T20:05:44Z")
I will try to simplify this. Basically, a transitive verb is something that is done **to something**. An intransitive verb can be done all by itself. Many vebs can be used both transitively and intransitively. For example: “I ran.” The verb to run is used intransitively here. “I ran a shop for five years.” The verb to run is used transitively here. Now, for affect and effect: Affect is a transitive verb. A affects B. Effect is a noun. If A **affects** B, then it can be said to have **an effect** on B. But, and this clouds the issue slightly, there is also a transitive verb “to effect”, which means “to bring about”. Eg, “The new management immediately effected changes in the company.” * * * Summary: Right: “The film really affected me.” Wrong: “The film really effected me.” Right: “The explosion had devastating effects.” Wrong: “The explosion had devastating affects.” The verb “effect” is not that commonly used in everyday writing, and can usually be replaced by another word, such as “bring about”. ---
**Author:** ![metroshane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/aeb1de/32.png) [@metroshane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/metroshane)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2003, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/affect-effect-whats-the-difference/203617/7 "2003-09-24T20:06:52Z")
i always think of “special effect”…anything else is affect. Which isn’t absolutely correct, but has worked for me more times than not…and that’s the best I can ask for. ---
**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2003, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/affect-effect-whats-the-difference/203617/8 "2003-09-24T20:08:43Z")
Whenever you can substitute the verb “impact” (which seems to be the fad today) "affect is correct. If “impact” makes no sense, then the correct word is “effect.” This is a non-grammatical view, but I think it is right. This does not apply to the noun “affect,” which refers either to the psychological condition, or to the noun “affect,” which refers to a feeling or emotion: [www.dictionary.com](http://www.dictionary.com) [quote] n. (fkt) Feeling or emotion, especially as manifested by facial expression or body language: “The soldiers seen on television had been carefully chosen for blandness of affect” (Norman Mailer). Obsolete. A disposition, feeling, or tendency. [/qote] ---
**Author:** ![dinoboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/65b543/32.png) [@dinoboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dinoboy)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2003, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/affect-effect-whats-the-difference/203617/9 "2003-09-24T20:12:58Z")
ah, but can not the word Effect _also_ be a verb? (boot to the head _whump_) In some cases Effect is used to be a transitive verb - def: to cause to come into being To confuse the matter more, Affect is also an (obsolete) noun (it concerned feeling). In general, Effect as a verb has the stronger meaning of the two but no one will really care. ---
**Author:** ![dinoboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/65b543/32.png) [@dinoboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dinoboy)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2003, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/affect-effect-whats-the-difference/203617/10 "2003-09-24T20:29:31Z")
ahhhh! my… computer… too… slow… Well met my friends! This battle of wits is over… Hmmm, I don’t know about your means there **barbitu8** , the word impact is not (usually) similar to either of the words in question: Impact n. - a collision Impact v. - to strike with a blow / pack firmly together (forcefully) It is sometimes used to mean ‘having an effect’ but that is not as commonly accepted by gramarians yet (it may be someday, but until then why wouldn’t one simply use the word ‘effect’?). Effect is a better word choice in this instance. again, not that most people would care. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2003, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/affect-effect-whats-the-difference/203617/11 "2003-09-24T20:30:08Z")
A cause affects my present situation (influences, verb, common use, please do not substitute “impact”). The rule does not affect me because I am not an Iraqi citizen. A cause produces an effect (result, noun, very common use) I kicked him in the nuts and it had the desired effect. A cause effects a new situation (creates, verb, used more seldomly) He was adamant so an attitude adjustment was effected with a swift kick in the nuts. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2003, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/affect-effect-whats-the-difference/203617/12 "2003-09-24T21:03:44Z")
I usually explain it as simply as possible: “effect” is outcome; “affect” is impact. ---
**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/affect-effect-whats-the-difference/203617/13 "2003-09-25T02:01:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dinoboy \* > \*\*ahhhh! my… computer… too… slow… > > Well met my friends! This battle of wits is over… > > Hmmm, I don’t know about your means there **barbitu8** , the word impact is not (usually) similar to either of the words in question: > > Impact n. - a collision > > Impact v. - to strike with a blow / pack firmly together (forcefully) > > It is sometimes used to mean ‘having an effect’ but that is not as commonly accepted by gramarians yet (it may be someday, but until then why wouldn’t one simply use the word ‘effect’?). Effect is a better word choice in this instance. > > again, not that most people would care. \*\* Exactly. People use “impact” all the time instead of “affect.” “Affect” means to have an effect. And until it is commonly accepted by gram_m_arians, why not use the word “affect,” not “effect.” > [@](#): > > Chefguy I usually explain it as simply as possible: “effect” is outcome; “affect” is impact. Again exactly. “Impact” has been used to mean “affect,” and I’m surprised that it is not commonly accepted by now. I think it’s overused, though. “Effect” means to effectuate. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/affect-effect-whats-the-difference/203617/14 "2003-09-25T02:47:51Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by barbitu8 \* > \*\*Exactly. People use “impact” all the time instead of “affect.” “Affect” means to have an effect. And until it is commonly accepted by gram_m\*arians, why not use the word “affect,” not “effect.” > Again exactly. “Impact” has been used to mean “affect,” and I’m surprised that it is not commonly accepted by now. I think it’s overused, though. “Effect” means to effectuate. \*\* I don’t use them as definitions. I use them as a shortcut to usage. If something affects something else, it impacts that something else. Whatever happens as a result is the effect. Now that I’ve reread the entire thread, the damn words sound like Martian gibberish. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/affect-effect-whats-the-difference/203617/15 "2003-09-25T07:57:46Z")
barbitu8, “impact” as a verb is often used in place of “affect” precisely by those who are not sure of the correct usage of affect / effect. “Impact” as a noun is used in place of “effect” (noun) by the same people. They resolve the doubt by just using “impact” in both cases which is an abomination. ---
**Author:** ![j.c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/73ab20/32.png) [@j.c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j.c)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/affect-effect-whats-the-difference/203617/16 "2003-09-25T16:14:42Z")
And of course using impact is one of those little things that is always bad. Even if you use it correctly. After a 100 years of misuse, people don’t respond well to the word. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/affect-effect-whats-the-difference/203617/17 "2003-09-25T20:40:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Phase42 \* > You see, it is possible to affect an effect, but not the other way around. “The situation effected a certain affect in my patient,” said the psychiatrist confusingly. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2003, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/affect-effect-whats-the-difference/203617/18 "2003-09-26T00:10:51Z")
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