be affected

USAGE SUMMARY

"be affected" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to describe how someone or something has been influenced by something else. For example, "The economy has been greatly affected by the pandemic."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Will I be affected?

Independent

Who will be affected?

The New York Times

And who will be affected?

The New York Times

How would women be affected?

The Economist

Voter turnout will be affected.

The New York Times

Trade may also be affected.

The Economist

He won't be affected.

The Guardian - Sport

Related's condominiums won't be affected.

The New York Times

How will I be affected?

The New York Times

Will the UK be affected?

Independent

Morale may also be affected.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "be affected" when you want to emphasize that something or someone is undergoing a change or influence due to an external factor. For instance, "Local businesses will be affected by the new regulations."

Common error

Avoid using "effect" as a verb. "Affect" is typically used as a verb meaning to influence, while "effect" is usually a noun meaning a result. For example, the sentence should be "The policy will be affected by public opinion", not "The policy will be effected by public opinion."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be affected" functions as a passive verb phrase, indicating that the subject receives the action of being influenced or changed. Ludwig examples show its use in various contexts where external factors cause an impact. As Ludwig AI confirms, this construction is grammatically correct and widely applicable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Formal & Business

19%

Science

15%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "be affected" is a versatile and grammatically sound phrase used to indicate influence or change resulting from an external factor. Ludwig's analysis shows that the phrase is most commonly found in news and media contexts, but it is applicable across various registers. While commonly used, it's essential to distinguish between "affect" and "effect" to maintain clarity. As Ludwig AI confirms, this passive verb phrase is a standard way to express that a subject is undergoing a change or experiencing an impact, and synonyms like "be impacted" and "be influenced" can be used for variety.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be impacted

This alternative directly replaces "affected" with "impacted", maintaining a similar sense of influence or change.

be influenced

This alternative focuses on the aspect of being influenced, suggesting a change in opinion, behavior, or outcome.

be changed

This phrase directly describes the state of undergoing a change, emphasizing the result of an influence.

be altered

This indicates a modification or adjustment, similar to being affected, but focusing on a specific change.

be modified

Similar to "be altered", this suggests a change or adjustment in form or character.

be touched

This phrase implies being emotionally moved or influenced, a more nuanced form of being affected.

be swayed

This suggests being persuaded or influenced to change one's opinion or course of action.

be determined

This highlights how external forces decide or influence a particular action.

be shaped

This phrase implies an external force is actively manipulating or forming the object. This introduces an active character to it that is not present in "be affected".

be transformed

This phrase suggests a significant or dramatic change, a stronger form of being affected.

FAQs

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

You can use "be affected" to indicate that someone or something is influenced or changed by something else. For instance, "The environment will "be affected" by climate change."

What's a good synonym for "be affected"?

A good synonym for "be affected" is "be impacted", which also implies influence or change.

Is it correct to say "be affected by" something?

Yes, it is correct. The phrase "be affected by" is commonly used to show that something is influenced or changed by a particular factor. For example, "The community will "be affected" by the new development".

What is the difference between "be affected" and "be effected"?

"Be affected" means to be influenced or changed, while "be effected" means to be brought about or implemented. For example, "The changes will "be affected" by the new policy" versus "The new policy will "be effected" immediately".