Difference between Affect and Effect

Knowing when to use affect or effect in a sentence can be a challenge. These words are examples of homonyms. Homonyms are words that are similar, but have very different meanings.

Most generally, affect is used as a verb and effect is used as a noun. When something “affects” something, it produces an “effect” on it. In some situations “effect” is also used as a verb while “affect” is applied as a noun.

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Affect
In order to understand the correct situation in which to use the word affect or effect, the first thing one must do is have a clear understanding of what each word means. The word “affect” means to produce a change in something.

When “affect” is used as a verb (used with object), it gives the following meanings

1. To act on; produce an effect or change in: Ex: Rain affected the crops
2. To impress the mind; move the feeling of: Ex: Her love affected him so deeply

When “affect” is used as a noun

1. Psychology, feeling or emotion
2. In psychiatry: observed emotional response that is restricted, flat, or blunted affect, a symptom of mental illness, especially schizophrenia.

Synonyms of “affect”: act on, alter, change, disturb, induce, influence,  involve, modify, move, overcome,  relate, transform,  simulate, take on

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Effect
The word “effect” has a different meaning. Effect is defined as a result of something or the ability to bring about a result.

When “effect” is used as a noun

1. Something that is produced by a cause; result; consequence: Ex: Exposure to the sunlight had the effect of on your eyes.
2. Power to produce results; efficacy; force; validity; influence: Ex: Susan’s stubbornness had no effect on Phill’s mind.
3. The state of being effective, accomplishment or fulfillment: EX: put your plan into effect.
4. Adding special effect

Effect (Verb) used with objects

1. Produce as an effect; bring about; accomplish something; make it happen: Ex: His new ideas about iPhone finally effected the transition.

Synonyms of “effect”: aftereffect, aftermath, backlash, backwash,  chain reaction, conclusion, consequence, development, end, end product, event, eventuality, follow-up, issue, outcome, outgrowth, precipitate, pursuance,  reaction, reflex, response, sequel, sequence, side effect

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Most of the time, you'll want affect as a verb meaning to influence something and effect for the something that was influenced. The difference between affect and effect is so slippery that people have started using "impact" as a verb instead. Don't be one of them! Another trick is to remember that affect comes first alphabetically, and an action (to affect) has to occur before you can have a result (an effect).

Grammar Rules for Affect and Effect

1. If you are talking about a result, then use the word "effect."

• Example: What effect did the loss have on the team?

2. It is appropriate to use the word "effect" if one of these words is used immediately before the word: into, on, take, the, any, an, or and.

• Example: The prescribed medication had an effect on the patient's symptoms.
• Example: In analyzing a situation, it is important to take the concepts of cause and effect into consideration.

3. If you want to describe something that was caused or brought about, the right word to use is effect.

• Example: The new manager effected some positive changes in the office. (This means that the new manager caused some positive changes to take place in the office.)

4. Affect can be used as a noun to describe facial expression.

• Example: The young man with schizophrenia had a flat affect.
• Example: The woman took the news of her husband's sudden death with little affect.

5. Affect can also be used as a verb. Use it when trying to describe influencing someone or something rather than causing it.

• Example: How does the crime rate affect hiring levels by local police forces?
• Example: The weather conditions will affect the number of people who come to the county fair this year.

Difference between no and not

No and not are both words we use to show negativity. It can be confusing for someone who is learning English to know when to use them.

“Not is used to make a verb negative while no is used as an adjective to make a noun negative.”

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“No” is a determiner expressing quantity like 'all', 'every', 'many', 'some', 'any', 'each', 'either', 'one', 'another' and is used before singular and plural nouns. It is similar in meaning to 'not a' or 'not any' and is often our preferred choice if we want to give emphasis to what we are saying. Compare:

• 'I have no idea what he is referring to.' (more emphatic)
• 'I don't have any idea what he is referring to.' (less emphatic)
• 'No students from the secondary school in New Town achieved the highest grades in their end-of-year exam.' (more emphatic)
• 'There weren't any students from the secondary school in New Town who achieved the highest grades in their end-of-year exam.' (less emphatic)
• I'm sorry. I've got no time for that this afternoon.' (more emphatic)
• 'I'm sorry. I haven't any time for that this afternoon.' (less emphatic)

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“Not” is used to make a clause or sentence negative and usually combines with the verb 'to be' and with adjectives, adverbs, noun groups or prepositional phrases. Very is often used after not to moderate the negative aspect of the clause. Thus, we have:

• 'It was not difficult to understand why she was in love with him.'
• 'It is not always true that people who are in love like the same things.'
• 'He swims well, but not very evenly.'
• 'It was not a huge meal, but enough for two people.'
• 'I know I'll probably fail my driving test, but I'm not in the least bit nervous about it.'

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'Good' is probably unique as an adjective in that it can combine with no and any and also with not, although there are sometimes subtle distinctions in usage or meaning. Compare:

• 'Is the milk good?' 'No, it's not good.' (The discussion here is about how fresh the milk is and not for me would be the preferred negative)
• 'Was the play any good?' 'It was no good at all. The acting was poor and the direction was terrible.' (Here, no good in the answer reflects any good in the question.)
• 'It's no good. I can't see how we can repair this fence. We shall have to buy a new one. (Here, 'It's no good' could be replaced by 'It's no use'.)

Note that good, like use or point is often used with -ing:

• 'It's no good trying to apologise. You have really offended me.'
• 'It's no use complaining about the service in this hotel. It will never improve.'
• 'There was no point (in) carrying on with this. We decided to end the investigation.

** Remember to use 'there's' with 'no point' and 'it's' with 'no good/no use'.

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Conclusion, No is before the noun while not is after the auxiliary verb.

Here are some negative adverbs: never, rarely, seldom, hardly ever, barely ever.

1. No is used as an exclamation: “Can I help you?” “No. Everything is okay.”
2. No is used as an adjective before singular and plural nouns. It means ‘not a’ or ‘not any’: I have no time to help you. I’m too busy.
3. Not is used as an adverb to make a sentence negative. It is often used with the verb ‘be’: John is not at home today.
4. Not is often used to make an adjective or adverb negative: John plays the piano, but not very well.
5. However, the adjective good can be combined with both not and no: “How was the film?” “No good at all.” & “How was the film?” “Not good at all.”
6. Not is often used in short replies with a number of verbs: “Was the party good?” “I’m afraid not.” & “Is it going to rain tomorrow?” “I hope not.” & “Are you going out tonight?” “I think not.”