When should I use effect or affect?

Question

Can never remember the rules!

Answer 1

The simplest way into the issue is, If you're going to do it, use "affect." and If it's something already done, use effect.

ex. Drinking alocholic drinks will affect your driving.

ex. The effect of the alcohol caused him to swerve out of control and hit a tree.

Answer 2

Usage Note: Affect and effect have no senses in common. As a verb affect is most commonly used in the sense of “to influence” (how smoking affects health). Effect means “to bring about or execute”: layoffs designed to effect savings. Thus the sentence These measures may affect savings could imply that the measures may reduce savings that have already been realized, whereas These measures may effect savings implies that the measures will cause new savings to come about

Answer 3

An "effect" is a noun. The actual rain from the clouds is the effect of the clouds.

"Affect" is a verb. The clouds affected the ground by causing rain to fall.

Answer 4

Affect is what you do to something else. Effect is the result of doing something.

Answer 5

Example:

What are the effects of alcohol?

It can affect your reaction time by slowing it down.

Answer 6

either can be a noun or a verb

I effected an escape from jail.
My friendliness had an effect on him.
My reaction to his statement affects how he responds.
His stern demeanour was an affect designed to enrage the audience.

Answer 7

Effect is a product of inflluence.
Affect is to influence.

Answer 8

"A" comes before "E".

You have to Affect someting to have an Effect on it.