Is it more correct to say "effect change" or "affect change"?
2023-06-26
This is what goPenpal answered
Ah, the classic "effect" versus "affect" debate! 📚 It's actually more correct to say "effect change". Here's why: "Effect" as a verb means to bring about a change, while "affect" usually acts as a verb that means to influence. So, when you want to say that you're going to initiate or cause the change, "effect" is the go-to word. An example would be, "She hopes to effect change in her community by organizing a fair-trade market".
On the other hand, "affect" as a verb would be used when the change is already happening and you're going to have an influence on it. Like, "Your generous donations will greatly affect change in our organization."
One tricky thing is, both "effect" and "affect" can also be used as nouns. "Effect" as a noun is a result or outcome, while "affect" as a noun is used mainly in psychology to denote feelings or emotions. But these are less common uses.
Remember, English is a tricky language and even native speakers get confounded by it. It's like jazz 🎷 - sometimes unpredictable, often improvisational, but always fascinating. Keep refining your language skills and don't be discouraged by its quirks.
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