Affect vs Effect
affect
to influence (verb)
effect
a result (noun)
How to tell them apart
A = Action, so Affect is the verb (to influence). E = End result, so Effect is the noun (the outcome).
Test yourself
Which word fits from context? Pick one, then reveal the answer. This is exactly how the GRE tests these pairs.
Question 1
Economists warned that even a modest rise in interest rates could dampen or otherwise how much consumers chose to spend during the fragile holiday season.
Choose: affect or effect
Show answer
Answer: affect
The verb slot paired with "dampen" demands the "influence" sense = affect; effect (to bring about) would nonsensically mean creating the spending, not modulating it.
Question 2
The new tutoring program produced a measurable on test scores, raising the class average by nearly twelve percentage points.
Choose: affect or effect
Show answer
Answer: effect
"a measurable ____ on test scores" is a noun (result) = effect; affect as a noun means emotional display and is clearly wrong.
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