What is the Difference Between Affected and Effected?

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The main difference between "affected" and "effected" lies in their usage and meaning:

  • Affected: This is the past tense of the verb "affect," which means "to produce an effect upon" or "to influence or produce a change in something". For example, "The weather affected his mood." Affected can also be used as an adjective to describe something that has been influenced or impacted, such as "The affected area was hit by a storm."
  • Effected: This is also a past tense form, but it is derived from the verb "effect," which generally means "to cause to come into being" or "to facilitate change". For example, "She effected the proposed changes in the project." Effected is less commonly used than affected in its verb form and is often associated with laws, changes, or measures.

In summary, "affected" is the past tense of "affect," which means to produce an effect or influence something, while "effected" is the past tense of "effect," which means to cause something to come into being or facilitate change. The basic difference is that "affected" is used to describe something that has been influenced or impacted, while "effected" is used to describe something that has been brought about or facilitated.

Comparative Table: Affected vs Effected

Here is a table summarizing the differences between "affected" and "effected":

Term Meaning Usage Example
Affected Influenced or changed by an external factor Adjective The affected plants wilted due to the hot weather.
Effected Successfully brought about or achieved Adjective The new policy was effected to reduce pollution.
Affect To influence or produce a change in something Verb The regulations aim to affect the company's pollution levels.
Effect The result or consequence of an action Noun The effect of the new policy was a reduction in pollution levels.

In summary, "affected" and "effected" are adjectives, with "affected" meaning influenced or changed and "effected" meaning successfully achieved. "Affect" is a verb meaning to influence or produce a change, while "effect" is a noun referring to the result or consequence of an action.