affect their lives

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "affect their lives" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe something that has an influence on people's lives. For example, "Changes in the economy can affect their lives in significant ways."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Credit cards affect only people's pockets; guns affect their lives.

The New York Times

But Arul still managed to affect their lives.

The Guardian - Music

By definition, such initiatives aim to empower people to influence decisions that affect their lives.

The Lancet

Children's views of their illness often are absent in decisions that affect their lives.

Journal of Pediatric Health Care

"This is not going to affect their lives at all," he said.

The New York Times

Participation means children are actively involved in issues that affect their lives".

The Guardian

They think politicians are simply not taking the issues that affect their lives seriously enough".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

How might a move out of state affect their lives right now?

The New York Times

They want to understand better how this arena downtown is going to affect their lives.

The New York Times

In New York, women increasingly have an equal voice in decisions that will affect their lives.

The Guardian - Opinion

It's made people feel remote from the decisions that affect their lives.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing broad societal issues, use "affect their lives" to emphasize the personal impact on individuals or communities. For example, "Policy changes directly affect their lives".

Common error

While "affect their lives" is generally acceptable, avoid using it excessively in highly formal or scientific writing. Consider stronger, more precise verbs like 'influence', 'determine', or 'impact' depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "affect their lives" primarily functions as a verb phrase within a sentence. It describes the action of influencing or having an impact on the existence and experiences of individuals or groups. Ludwig AI affirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "affect their lives" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe the influence something has on individuals. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a usable phrase in various contexts. While its register is generally neutral, more formal or scientific writing might benefit from stronger verbs. It's frequently found in news, science, and business contexts. To enhance your writing, consider the specific nuance you wish to convey and use synonyms like ""impact their lives"" or "influence their lives" when appropriate. Remember to use the phrase to stress the real life impact of decisions and policies.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

impact their existence

Replaces 'lives' with 'existence', emphasizing the overall state of being.

influence their daily routines

Focuses on the influence on everyday activities and habits.

shape their future

Highlights the impact on what is yet to come in their lives.

have repercussions on their well-being

Emphasizes the consequences on their health and happiness.

alter their circumstances

Focuses on changes to the conditions and situations of their lives.

change their course of life

Indicates a shift in the direction and path of their lives.

leave a mark on their journey

Uses a metaphorical expression to convey a lasting influence.

play a role in their experiences

Focuses on the contribution to the events and encounters they have.

bear upon their destinies

A more formal way of saying affecting their ultimate fate.

matter to their livelihood

Highlights the phrase relevance to how they live and make a living.

FAQs

What does "affect their lives" mean?

The phrase "affect their lives" means to have an influence or impact on someone's personal experiences, well-being, or daily routines.

How can I use "affect their lives" in a sentence?

You can use "affect their lives" to describe how external factors or decisions influence people. For example, "Economic policies "impact their lives" significantly."

What is a synonym for "affect their lives"?

Synonyms for "affect their lives" include "influence their lives", ""impact their lives"", or "change their lives", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to use "affect their lives" or "impact their lives"?

Both "affect their lives" and ""impact their lives"" are correct. "Affect" is generally used as a verb meaning to influence, while "impact" can be used as both a noun and a verb. The choice often depends on stylistic preference.