Is it “Affect Change” or “Effect Change”? I could go deeper here (and have … ahem, Get a Grip…), but let’s get to the crux of today’s conversation. Okay, perhaps words don’t actually want to mess with you, but it feels like that sometimes, doesn’t it? Simple, right?īut are you bothered that I used “commonly” in both of those definitions? That’s because there are a lot of subtleties to these two words, where they just want to mess with you. When you affect something, there is an effect. “Effect” is most commonly a noun meaning “a result.”.“Affect” is most commonly a verb meaning “to influence.”.

“Affect Change” or “Effect Change”?ĭo you still feel as confident as you did a moment ago? But then came this moment in your life, and you’re ready to “effect change” in the world (or are you ready to “affect change” in the world)? Uh oh. “effect.” You didn’t even need Get a Grip on Your Grammar to teach you the difference between this tricky pair. When change is in the air-when you can see it in the clouds, on the streets, or anywhere else-what are you going to do?

I have an effect on you