affect the credit

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "affect the credit" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing how certain actions or events may influence someone's credit score or creditworthiness. Example: "Late payments can significantly affect the credit of an individual, making it harder to secure loans in the future."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Mr. Abernathy's comment also appeared to affect the credit markets, as investors in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac bonds traded more cautiously this afternoon.

The New York Times

The companies say they may conduct a "soft inquiry" on a patient's credit report, which does not affect the credit score.

The New York Times

The grave problems in the housing market have been viral, spreading out to affect the credit and buying power of Americans even as the price of oil and gas is rising as never before.

The New York Times

Michael Adler, a spokesman for Moody's, said the company "considers a range of information from various market participants about factors that could affect the credit quality of the transactions we rate".

The New York Times

For starters, it might affect the credit rating of the European Stability Mechanism (the bailout fund is currently AAA), while pension funds have to consider that France is now officially a riskier bet (as it is now only AAA with Fitch).

The Guardian - Business

"This decision will not affect the credit available to our customers, and we will rely on other sources of liquidity to continue to ensure we are lending to our customers and supporting the housing market recovery," said Lawrence Di Rita, a spokesman for Bank of America.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

Last year I applied for a mortgage and was not aware this judgment was adversely affecting the credit available to me.

The Guardian - Money

"There is a staggering conflict of interest affecting the credit rating issue," Mr. Franken said in a speech.

The New York Times

If there is little time for a significant upgrade in a credit score -- perhaps because you found your dream home and can't wait to make an offer -- borrowers should explain to the lender any issues that might have affected the credit report, said Mr. Gwizdz of Wells Fargo.

The New York Times

The material entry of a third rating agency (Fitch) to the competitive landscape offers a unique experiment to empirically examine how increased competition affects the credit ratings market.

Journal of Financial Economics

A foreclosure should not affect the writers' credit, he said, because it is the mother's debt, not theirs.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing financial decisions, specify how the action might "affect the credit". For example, explain that consistently paying bills on time positively "affects the credit" score.

Common error

Be careful not to confuse "affect" (a verb meaning to influence) with "effect" (a noun meaning a result). Saying "effect the credit" is grammatically incorrect in most contexts where you intend to mean influence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "affect the credit" primarily functions as a verb phrase, where "affect" is the transitive verb indicating influence, and "the credit" is the direct object. Ludwig's examples show it describing how actions impact credit scores or ratings.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

24%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "affect the credit" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe how actions or events influence creditworthiness. Ludwig confirms this with numerous examples from reputable sources. While "affect" is a verb meaning 'to influence', it is often confused with the noun "effect", which means 'result'. The phrase appears most frequently in News & Media and Science contexts, maintaining a neutral register suitable for professional and general communication. For alternatives, consider using "impact creditworthiness" or "influence credit rating" for variety. It is important to specify what actions might "affect the credit" when discussing financial decisions for clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

impact creditworthiness

This alternative uses a single word, "creditworthiness", to convey the overall ability to manage credit, making it slightly more concise.

influence credit rating

This alternative uses "influence" as a synonym for "affect" and specifies "credit rating", focusing on the formal assessment of credit risk.

have an effect on credit

This alternative is a more verbose way of saying the same thing, using the noun form "effect" instead of the verb "affect".

alter credit standing

This alternative uses "alter" which suggest a change in credit standing which is another way of referring to a credit score or report.

change credit score

This alternative is very direct and emphasizes the numerical credit score itself, highlighting the potential for quantifiable change.

impair credit quality

This alternative focuses on the negative impact, suggesting a reduction in the quality or reliability of one's credit.

compromise credit status

Similar to "impair credit quality", this option underlines the risk of a negative outcome for one's credit status.

degrade credit profile

This alternative uses "degrade" to imply a lowering of the credit profile, emphasizing a decline in overall assessment.

undermine credit reputation

This alternative highlights the impact on one's financial reputation due to credit-related actions.

jeopardize credit access

This alternative stresses the potential loss or restriction of access to credit as a consequence.

FAQs

How can I use "affect the credit" in a sentence?

You can use "affect the credit" to describe how certain actions or events can influence a person's credit score or creditworthiness. For instance, "Late payments can negatively "impact creditworthiness"".

What's a better way to say "affect the credit"?

Alternatives include "influence credit rating", "impair credit quality", or "change credit score", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use "affect the credit" or "effect the credit"?

"Affect" (verb) is generally correct when you mean to influence. "Effect" (noun) means a result, so "effect the credit" would only be appropriate if you're talking about bringing credit into existence or enacting it somehow which is rare. Therefore, "affect the credit" is the correct usage in most scenarios.

What factors commonly "affect the credit"?

Payment history, credit utilization, length of credit history, types of credit used, and new credit accounts are all factors that commonly "affect the credit" rating or score.