The Difference Between Effect and Affect

Introduction:

The terms “effect” and “affect” are often used interchangeably, but there is a subtle difference between the two. An effect is the result of a cause, while an affect is the influence of something on a person or thing.

To better understand the difference between effect and affect, let’s take a closer look at each term:

Effect:

An effect is the result of a cause. In other words, it’s what happens after something has been done. For example, if you add too much salt to your food, the effect will be that it tastes bad. Another example would be if you were to get caught in a rainstorm without an umbrella; the wet clothes would be the effect of being caught in the rain without protection.

Affect:

An affect is the influence that something has on a person or thing. In other words, it’s what happens before something else takes place. For example, if you see a scary movie, it may affect your sleep that night – meaning you might have trouble sleeping because you’re thinking about the movie. Or, if you take medication that makes you drowsy, it will likely affect your ability to drive safely.

Summary:

To sum it up, an effect is the result of a cause, while an affect is the influence of something on a person or thing.