# Help me understand how to use effect and affect properly. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 26, 2007, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-understand-how-to-use-effect-and-affect-properly/389637 "2007-01-26T22:38:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2007, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-understand-how-to-use-effect-and-affect-properly/389637/1 "2007-01-26T22:38:00Z")
This is one of those things that I have never gotten the hang of- does anyone have an easy way of getting these right? I have been to some websites, but no luck finding something that sticks. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2007, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-understand-how-to-use-effect-and-affect-properly/389637/2 "2007-01-26T22:42:33Z")
Effect is the noun; affect is the verb. Nouns are things, verbs are action words. It’s probably more complex than that, but I need simplicity! 🙂 Edited to add – What I need help with is further and farther. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2007, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-understand-how-to-use-effect-and-affect-properly/389637/3 "2007-01-26T22:54:29Z")
Actually, each word is both a noun and a verb. Lets start with the verbs. To effect something is to make it happen. You’re familiar with the phrase “cause and effect?” Use that as a reminder that to effect something is to cause it to be. (Note that in the phrase “cause and effect,” the word _effect_ is a noun, not a verb - just use the phrase as a mnemonic aid.) To affect something is to influence or change it in some way. You alter it. Affect begins with the letter _a_, alter begins with the letter _a_, so use the letter “a” as a reminder that to **a** ffect means to **a** lter. Sorry, I’m out of time now, I’ll try to get to the nouns later. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2007, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-understand-how-to-use-effect-and-affect-properly/389637/4 "2007-01-26T22:55:10Z")
[QUOTE=AuntiePam] Effect is the noun; affect is the verb. Nouns are things, verbs are action words. It’s probably more complex than that, but I need simplicity! [/QUOTE] Yes, it is a bit more complex. Here’s what I was taught at school and I’ve always found it useful. **Verb** Both words can be used as verbs. Affect = to bring about a change in something, to alter something e.g. The alcohol affected his driving ability. Effect = to put in motion the change/alteration e.g. This new method should effect significant change in our productivity. **Noun** Both words can also be used as nouns. But unless you’re writing in a psychological/medical context, you’ll probably never have to use affect as a noun. The one you’ll want is effect. e.g. The alcohol had a significant effect on his driving ability. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2007, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-understand-how-to-use-effect-and-affect-properly/389637/5 "2007-01-26T22:55:16Z")
“Effect” is the result of something. And because it’s a noun can be preceeded by “the” or “an” or “a”. Listening to loud music will cause (a) hearing loss effect. “Affect” is what one thing will do to another. Loud music will affect your hearing. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2007, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-understand-how-to-use-effect-and-affect-properly/389637/6 "2007-01-26T22:56:26Z")
The moon’s gravity affects the earth’s oceans One effect of the moon’s gravity is ocean tides The moon’s gravity _effects a change_ in sea level. ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2007, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-understand-how-to-use-effect-and-affect-properly/389637/7 "2007-01-27T00:08:07Z")
Would this be right “The heat affects the water with the effect of making it to boil” ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2007, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-understand-how-to-use-effect-and-affect-properly/389637/8 "2007-01-27T00:13:20Z")
Yes ---
**Author:** ![MLS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2007, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-understand-how-to-use-effect-and-affect-properly/389637/9 "2007-01-27T02:50:57Z")
The **E** ffect is the r **E** sult. **A** ffect is an **A** ction. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2007, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-understand-how-to-use-effect-and-affect-properly/389637/10 "2007-01-27T03:43:54Z")
[QUOTE=Cunctator] Both words can also be used as nouns. But unless you’re writing in a psychological/medical context, you’ll probably never have to use affect as a noun. [/QUOTE] Interestingly, I heard it just today. I was participating in a student film project, playing a jackbooted thug of some future dystopia (gosh, I can’t imagine how a student filmmaker thought _that_ up 😃 ) and when I entered the room of the soon-to-be-arrested woman, preceded by my masked goons, I fussily brushed some imaginary dust from my lapel. The director said he liked the affect. ---
**Author:** ![Laggard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de053/32.png) [@Laggard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laggard)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2007, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-understand-how-to-use-effect-and-affect-properly/389637/11 "2007-01-27T03:49:34Z")
VANE = Verb affect Noun effect Works for most situations. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2007, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-understand-how-to-use-effect-and-affect-properly/389637/12 "2007-01-27T04:11:05Z")
> [@](#): > > But unless you’re writing in a psychological/medical context, you’ll probably never have to use affect as a noun. If you watch L&O:CI you’d be familiar with the noun usage. Webster defines **affect** (_noun_) as: the conscious subjective aspect of an emotion considered apart from bodily changes Which I think means how you outwardly, deliberately display an emotion as opposed to how you are inwardly reacting to it. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2007, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-understand-how-to-use-effect-and-affect-properly/389637/13 "2007-01-27T04:28:12Z")
[QUOTE=Bryan Ekers] Interestingly, I heard it just today. I was participating in a student film project, playing a jackbooted thug of some future dystopia (gosh, I can’t imagine how a student filmmaker thought _that_ up 😃 ) and when I entered the room of the soon-to-be-arrested woman, preceded by my masked goons, I fussily brushed some imaginary dust from my lapel. The director said he liked the affect. [/QUOTE] Okay, now I’m really confused. Doesn’t brushing the dust from your lapel produce an effect – fastidious thug? Or is it affect as in an affectation? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2007, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-understand-how-to-use-effect-and-affect-properly/389637/14 "2007-01-27T04:59:45Z")
[QUOTE=AuntiePam] Or is it affect as in an affectation? [/QUOTE] That was how the director meant it - as a minor, possibly contrived, gesture suggesting something other than appearance suggests. Of course, I was trying to make my character a bit more memorable than just a generic fascist thug, like making him one who would calmly (if not wistfully) remove his black beret before backhanding a middle-aged woman across the face. If the film ever gets to YouTube, I’ll post a link. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2007, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-understand-how-to-use-effect-and-affect-properly/389637/15 "2007-01-27T05:28:54Z")
There was a recent discussion of this that you might search for to find additional answers. This may have a salutary effect on your affect. ---
**Author:** ![HazelNutCoffee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@HazelNutCoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HazelNutCoffee)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2007, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-understand-how-to-use-effect-and-affect-properly/389637/16 "2007-01-27T06:51:20Z")
The use of affect as a noun crops up in literary theory all the time. In that context it usually means having to do with emotions (as opposed to reason). Something can be cognitive or affective. Granted, unless you’re in the field you probably won’t have much cause to use it this way. ---
**Author:** ![Themenin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ee59a6/32.png) [@Themenin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Themenin)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2007, 8:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-understand-how-to-use-effect-and-affect-properly/389637/17 "2007-01-27T08:58:24Z")
[QUOTE=Bryan Ekers] The director said he liked the affect. [/QUOTE] Special affects ! I usually try to think of ‘affection’ vs ‘effective’, though this doesn’t cover the affection vs affectation problem that’s already been noted. ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2007, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-understand-how-to-use-effect-and-affect-properly/389637/18 "2007-01-27T13:25:43Z")
[QUOTE=HazelNutCoffee] Something can be cognitive or affective. [/QUOTE] As in the **Seasonal Affective Disorder** that some of us up here get in the middle of winter. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2007, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-understand-how-to-use-effect-and-affect-properly/389637/19 "2007-01-27T17:55:34Z")
Even better and simpler: Th **E E** ffect