Affect and Effect
Affect is almost always the verb, the doing word; effect is almost always the noun, the thing that happens.
Usually taught in 8th grade · these two sound different but are confused in writing
Practice this pair
SpellCrush practice reads each word aloud, uses it in a spoken example sentence, and then asks your child to spell it — with instant feedback and a hint if they get stuck.
Two honest caveats. Practice is word-by-word: there is no mode yet that shows a sentence with a gap and asks which spelling fits, which is the format homophones really want. And the no-signup session runs a fixed set of sample words rather than the words on this page. Read the sentences below together first, then practice the spellings.
Affect and Effect at a glance
| Word | What it means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| affect | to change something (a doing word) | Late nights affect how well she reads. |
| effect | the change that happened (a thing) | The new bedtime had a real effect. |
The memory trick
RAVEN: Remember, Affect is a Verb, Effect is a Noun. If the or an fits in front of it, you want effect: the effect, an effect. If to fits in front of it, you want affect: to affect.
Sentences that only work with one of them
Homophones are meaningless on their own, so learn them in sentences. Read each line aloud with your child, then cover the word and ask which spelling belongs there.
- Late nights affect how well she reads.
- Rain will affect the game on Saturday.
- The new bedtime had a real effect.
- One side effect of the medicine is sleepiness.
Fill in the blank
Same sentences, word removed. Answers are underneath each one, so cover the page with a hand or a sheet of paper.
Late nights ______ how well she reads.
Answer: affect
Rain will ______ the game on Saturday.
Answer: affect
The new bedtime had a real ______.
Answer: effect
One side ______ of the medicine is sleepiness.
Answer: effect
Where this fits in the year
Affect and Effect normally comes up in 8th grade spelling. That page has the full word list for the year, with audio, so you can see what else is expected at the same stage.
Related pages
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Then is about time, what happens next; than compares two things. Match the vowel to the job - then goes with when, than goes with compare.
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Frequently asked
What is the difference between affect and effect?
Affect is almost always the verb, the doing word; effect is almost always the noun, the thing that happens. In short: affect = to change something (a doing word); effect = the change that happened (a thing).
How do I remember which one to use?
RAVEN: Remember, Affect is a Verb, Effect is a Noun. If the or an fits in front of it, you want effect: the effect, an effect. If to fits in front of it, you want affect: to affect.
When do children learn affect and effect?
affect and effect usually come up around 8th grade, though they keep causing errors well into adulthood. These two are not true homophones: they sound different, but they are confused in writing often enough to behave like a pair.