verb · academic

affect

/əˈfekt/a·FECT

Band 6-7speakingtask2

to have an influence on someone or something

Examples

High unemployment can negatively affect mental health.

The study examined how air quality affects school attendance.

Government cuts affected public services across the region.

Band 8 sentence

The research clearly shows how urban planning decisions affect residents’ long-term wellbeing.

Collocations

  • adversely affect
  • directly affect
  • be affected by

Word family

affect vaffected adjaffecting adj/participle

Common mistakes

The policy will effects employment.The policy will affect employment.

This issue affect many people.This issue affects many people.

Say it for a higher band

5influence6impact7+affect

Synonyms

influence

impact

Easily confused

effect

The effect of the new law was immediate.

Related words

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In Sublist 3

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