The Grammar Guide Spelling What is the difference between 'effects' and 'affects'?

What is the difference between 'effects' and 'affects'?

What is the difference between 'effects' and 'affects'?

The words effects and affects are often confused because they are easy to mistype. We'll explain the difference.

Effects means belongings when used as a noun.

Affects means to cause when used as a verb.

A good way to remember the difference is Affects is the Action.

Out of the two words, 'effects' is the most common. It appears about eight times more frequently than 'affects'.



People often confuse affects and effects because they sound similar. In general, there is an easy way to remember the difference. Most of the time, effect is the noun and affect is the verb.

Effects is almost always a noun. It can mean the results of a cause or action. It can also mean personal belongings as a noun. Effects is sometimes used as a verb that means to cause to come into being. It's not a common usage of the word.

Affects is a verb that is in the third-person singular present tense. It means to produce an affect or to cause or influence. It also means *to put on a pretense" and is also the present third-person singular form of the verb.

Is the phrase 'the effects of the' or 'the affects of the'?

You should use 'the effects of the'. These phrases are often confused because of their similar spelling.

Is the correct expression 'of the effects of' or 'of the affects of'?

The correct phrase is 'of the effects of'. These phrases are often confused because they appear similar.

Is the correct phrase, 'the effects of' or 'the affects of'?

The right phrase is 'the effects of'. These phrases are often confused because they are easy to mistype.

What's the correct phrase 'to the effects of' or 'to the affects of'?

The right phrase is 'to the effects of'. These phrases are often confused because they have a similar spelling.

Which is correct 'from the effects of' or 'from the affects of'?

The right expression is 'from the effects of'. These phrases are often confused because of their similar spelling.

What's the right phrase 'greatly affects the environment' or 'greatly effects the environment'?

The correct expression is 'greatly affects the environment'. These phrases are often confused because of their similar spelling.

What's the correct phrase 'adversely affects educational performance' or 'adversely effects educational performance'?

The right expression is 'adversely affects educational performance'. These phrases are often confused because they are easy to mistype.

Is the phrase 'sound affects' or 'sound effects'?

The right expression is 'sound effects'. These phrases are often confused because of their similar spelling.

What's the right phrase 'employee performance affects earnings' or 'employee performance effects earnings'?

The correct phrase is 'employee performance affects earnings'. These phrases are often confused because they have a similar spelling.

Should I use 'as it affects the' or 'as it effects the'?

The right phrase is 'as it affects the'. These phrases are often confused because they appear similar.

Some synonyms of effects are: consequence, cores, impression, private property, outcome.

Some synonyms of affects are: moves, comes to, upsets, moves, impresses.

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The definitions in this article were adapted from Wiktionary.

Examples of effects in a sentence

What we call observation selection effects."“Look,
- The Ambler Warning by Robert Ludlum
Makes you look pretty, with no side effects.”
- Knife Music by David Carnoy
His second reflection was that the effects of ruination had been entirely beneficial.
- In the night room: a novel by Peter Straub
So far as I can see, there are no noticeable side effects.
- RX for Chaos by Anvil, Christopher/ Flint, Eric (EDT)
You don't have the slightest idea what the long-term effects might be."
- Wastelands by John Joseph Adams

Examples of affects in a sentence

He doesn’t want to see anything like it happen again, whether it affects him or not.
- Ghost Shadow by Heather Graham
I’m telling you something that affects you.
- Fall of Giants by Ken Follett
Criticism deeply affects us personally in a negative way.
- Lord, Change My Attitude: Before Its Too Late by James MacDonald
That sound in the distance affects me…or is about to.
- Just One of the Guys by Kristan Higgins
It usually affects you afterward, once you’re clear.
- Dear John by Nicholas Sparks