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Why is an affect a grammar error?

Reviewed and edited by Anwar Kareem 28/09/2024, 21:34
English.me team member

What kind of error is it?

An affect or an effect. What's correct?

It's a grammatical error involving the incorrect use of the word "affect" as a noun.

Why do people make this mistake?

People often confuse "affect" with "effect" because they sound similar and have related meanings, but their grammatical functions differ.

What is correct?

"Affect" is a verb meaning to influence something, whereas "effect" is a noun meaning the result or outcome of an influence.

Examples of correct usage

  • The news did not affect her as much as she expected.
  • The new law had a significant effect on the economy.

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