Affect and effect are often confused as they are homophones, meaning they sound the same when spoken. However, they have different meanings. Affect is a verb that means to influence or have an impact on something. For example, “The rainy weather affected our plans for a picnic.” Effect, on the other hand, can be a noun or a verb and means the result or outcome of something. For example, “The effect of the new law was a decrease in crime rates.” To remember the difference between the two, it may help to think of the phrase “Affect starts with A, like Action” as affect is an action that changes something. For effect, you can associate it with the phrase “The result is the Effect” as it refers to the outcome of something. In conclusion, understanding the difference between affect and effect can help to enhance your writing and communication skills. It’s important to be aware of their proper usage to avoid confusion and communicate clearly.