affected by

USAGE SUMMARY

'affected by' is an appropriate phrase to use in written English.
It is used to indicate that one thing or event has had an influence on another. For example, "The economic downturn has been widely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Everybody's affected by that.

The New York Times - Sports

Joe was affected by it.

The New York Times - Sports

Sports, too, are affected by propaganda.

The New Yorker

"Both will be affected by the shutdown".

The New York Times

"You can't be affected by that.

The New York Times - Sports

"Many were affected by Sandy," he said.

The New York Times

"Everyone of us is affected by criticism.

Independent

For services to People affected by HIV.

Independent

Were you affected by the filing delay?

The New York Times

Who will be affected by the earthquake?

The New Yorker

Everyone is affected by it".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "affected by", clearly specify what is causing the effect and what is being affected for clarity. For instance, instead of saying "The community was affected", specify "The community was affected by the recent storm".

Common error

A common mistake is using "affect" (verb) in place of "effect" (noun) or vice versa. Remember that "affect" means to influence, while "effect" refers to a result or consequence. For example, use "The policy affected the economy" (influence) and "The effect of the policy was significant" (result).

Linguistic Context

The phrase "affected by" primarily functions as a passive adjectival phrase, describing a noun that has undergone some form of influence or impact. Ludwig's examples illustrate its use across diverse contexts to indicate how different entities are influenced by various factors.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

13%

Reference

5%

Social Media

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "affected by" is a highly versatile phrase used to indicate that something has been influenced or impacted by an external factor. According to Ludwig, it's grammatically correct and sees widespread use across diverse contexts, from news and media to scientific literature. It is important to distinguish it from "effected by" to avoid grammatical errors. When using "affected by", ensure clarity by specifying both the cause and the affected entity. Alternatives such as "impacted by" and "influenced by" can provide nuanced variations depending on the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

impacted by

Uses "impacted" to denote a strong effect, maintaining a close semantic equivalence.

influenced by

Suggests a more subtle or indirect effect, where something is guided or shaped.

subject to

Implies being under the control or authority of something, indicating a liability.

touched by

Conveys a more emotional or sentimental influence.

determined by

Indicates that something is decided or controlled by a specific factor.

conditioned by

Suggests that something's state is dependent on certain circumstances.

shaped by

Emphasizes how something has been molded or formed by an external force.

modified by

Highlights the alteration or change caused by something.

altered by

Focuses on the transformation or change resulting from an influence.

changed by

Simply indicates that something has undergone a change due to an external factor.

FAQs

How can I use "affected by" in a sentence?

"Affected by" indicates that something or someone has been influenced or impacted by something else. For example, "The company's profits were greatly "impacted by" the new regulations".

What are some alternatives to "affected by"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "influenced by", "impacted by", or "subject to" as alternatives to "affected by".

Which is correct, "affected by" or "effected by"?

"Affected by" is generally used to indicate influence or impact. "Effected by" means to be brought about or caused by, which is less common. Therefore, "affected by" is usually the correct choice unless you mean 'brought about by'.

Is there a difference between being "affected by" and being "influenced by"?

While both indicate impact, "affected by" typically implies a direct impact, while "influenced by" suggests a more subtle or indirect effect. The choice depends on the specific context and the nature of the impact.