Effect vs affect!

I think these might be two of the most confused words in the whole of the English language! I have also been guilty of mixing up the meanings.

Affect is a verb – to influence something or cause something to change. A useful tip is that A is for action, and verbs are action words!

Effect is (usually) a noun – the result of an influence or change!

If A affects B, then B experiences the effect of A’s action… For example, if I affect your decision, the effect of my action is that your decision changes!

The reason these two words are often confused is that they sound almost identical when spoken – so be careful!


Check out our latest PODCAST!!

270. What is the 2023 Word of the Year? (English Vocabulary Lesson) Thinking in English

⁠NEW AI Writing Tool – https://www.thinkinginenglish.io/⁠ ⁠Become a Patron to Try Out the Tool – https://www.patreon.com/thinkinginenglish ⁠ What is the 2023 Word of the Year? What word best sums up the trends, events, and stories of the past 12 months? Listen to this episode to find out the 2023 Collins Dictionary Word of the Year, as well as some other Word of the Year contenders! Transcript – https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2023/11/13/270-what-is-the-2023-word-of-the-year-english-vocabulary-lesson/ My Links ⁠⁠⁠Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/thinkinginenglish ⁠⁠⁠ TEST YOUR ENGLISH LEVEL – https://thinkinginenglish.link/placement-level-test/ ⁠Thinking in English Bonus Podcast – https://www.patreon.com/collection/10513⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠ENGLISH CLASSES – https://thinkinginenglish.link/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠NEW YOUTUBE Channel!!! – https://www.youtube.com/@thinkinginenglishpodcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠INSTAGRAM – thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/)  ⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Blog – thinkinginenglish.blog — Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-english/support
  1. 270. What is the 2023 Word of the Year? (English Vocabulary Lesson)
  2. 273. How Many English Words Did William Shakespeare Invent? (English Vocabulary Lesson )
  3. 272. What is Panda Diplomacy? (English Vocabulary Lesson )
  4. 271. More Ways To Remember English Vocabulary! (English Vocabulary Lesson)
  5. 269. What is the BEST Way to Remember English Vocabulary? (English Vocabulary Lesson)

Liked it? Take a second to support Thinking in English on Patreon!
Become a patron at Patreon!

By Tom Wilkinson

Host and founder of Thinking in English, Tom is committed to providing quality and interesting content to all English learners. Previously a research student at a top Japanese university and with a background in English teaching, political research, and Asian languages, Tom is now working fulltime on bettering Thinking in English!

Leave a Reply