difference between affect and effect
Answers
This is a very tricky question. In order to understand the difference between ‘affect’ and ‘effect’ one needs to know the following details about both the words:
1. ‘Affect’ is only used as verb. There are five different meanings of ‘affect’.
(a) To produce a change (Your opinion will not affect my decision.)
(b) Of a disease attack some part of body
(c) To make somebody feel sad or piteous
(d) To pretend
(e) To try to impress others
2. ‘Effect’ is used as noun as well as verb. ‘Effect’ as a verb has only one meaning:
(a) To make something happen. For example, ‘The timely treatment effected early recovery.’
‘Effect’ as a noun has two meanings:
(a) A change or result (There are many beneficial effects of doing regular exercise.)
(b) A particular look, sound or impression that an artist or writer wants to create.
The words affect and effect are often interchangeably used. However, the two words have entirely different meanings. Affect is often used as a verb while effect is primarily a noun.
The word affect is used to denote make a difference to.
Example: Studies have shown that certain diseases only affect cattle and not human beings.
The word effect represents the impact or result of something because of a certain action.
Example: The effect of the floods was so intense that it was impossible for the traffic to move on the road.