Common errors series: ‘affect’ vs. ‘effect’

One of the most common mistakes I come across is the inadvertent use of ‘affect’ when ‘effect’ should be used and vice versa.

Here is a simple way to remember the difference and thus which should be used when:

Affect is a verb meaning ‘to influence.’ For example: the baby’s incessant crying affected my ability to do my homework.

Effect is a noun meaning ‘the result of a cause’. For example: the effect of the baby’s incessant crying was that I was unable to do my homework.

Yours in crisp, error-free writing,
Jessica xx