Continued help understanding affect/effect

Question

I have done this for 2 decades now. I don't think I ever want to forget this again. Because of the confusion I am continuously questioning myself on it. I know that affect influences and effect is the change.

But according to Vocabulary.com

effect
can also be used as a verb to mean to produce or to cause to come into being.

And oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com

affect somebody/something
to produce a change in somebody/something

So do sleeping pills affect sleep? While better mood is the effect of more sleep?

sleeping pills affect.
better mood is the effect.

Did I get this correct?

I'll deal with effect as a verb next, but I need to be able to get at least one thing right before I move on.

Please look the word(s) up before asking a question which can be answered by using a dictionary (that has to do with a meaning of some word or expression). For example, this one offers a good explanation (click on "Which Word?"). — , Dec 28 '16 at 22:48
See also the similar question What is the difference between effect and affect?. — Tsundoku, Dec 28 '16 at 23:12
The standard advice on differentiating these terms tends to create confusion because learners encounter uses that are not addressed. Effect is also a verb. Affect is also a noun. So a sleeping pill might effect a change of affect (mood). A sleeping pill can affect affect! — Jim Reynolds, Dec 29 '16 at 04:56
Her affect was affecting her ability to effect the best effect. I think that link might be helpful. The sentence is a pretty good example of the different usages. — ColleenV, Dec 29 '16 at 19:47

score 0 · Answer 1 · answered Mar 15 '19 at 06:28

A new answer seems suitable after the updates to the question (thanks to @NathanTuggy for those)

Note: the answers below ignore the science of pills and sleeping. They concentrate on the meaning of the 2 words, "affect" and "effect".

So do sleeping pills affect sleep?

Yes

better mood is the effect of more sleep?

Yes

It may be a better example to say:

Sleep is the effect of sleeping pills.

sleeping pills affect.

Yes

better mood is the effect.

Yes

or:

sleep is the effect.

Did I get this correct?

Yes

score -2 · Answer 2 · answered Dec 28 '16 at 22:42

-2

Yes, you are correct on both counts. According to https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/effect, the most common meaning of the verb affect can be described as "to cause an effect".

answered Dec 28 '16 at 22:42

zipirovich

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score -2 · Answer 3 · answered Dec 28 '16 at 23:00

-2

Affect is a verb, and means: to cause an effect, it also means to cause an alteration in something/someone, for instance: It affected my life in many different ways.

Effect is a substantive, and means the consequence of something/someone, for instance: Drinking in that party caused me many effects, I have been vomiting since then.

answered Dec 28 '16 at 23:00

Davyd

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Effect can also be a verb, although it is mostly used as a noun. – Tsundoku Dec 28 '16 at 23:11
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@ChristopheStrobbe ...and "affect" can be a noun, even though it's mostly used as a verb. It's no surprise this word pair is so confusing. – ColleenV Jan 02 '17 at 01:32
@ColleenV You're right. I'll post my own answer in the next few days :-) – Tsundoku Jan 02 '17 at 12:43

Continued help understanding affect/effect

3 Answers3