become effective

USAGE SUMMARY

'become effective' is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
You can typically use this phrase whenever you want to refer to something coming into effect or being implemented. For example, "This new policy will become effective on April 1st."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

It would become effective immediately.

The New York Times

The changes will become effective Jan . 1

The New York Times

The closings would become effective today.

The New York Times

Ms. Mason said the changes would become effective in January.

The New York Times - Arts

The legislation will become effective on March 7.

The New York Times

The vaccine takes two weeks to become effective.

The New York Times

The regulations would become effective six months after passage.

The New York Times

All changes become effective as soon as they are posted.

Independent

The new method would only become effective once enough states (270 electoral votes' worth) sign on.

The Guardian

The action requires a 60-day Congressional notification period before it can become effective.

The New York Times

The rezoning is likely to become effective around midyear, city officials said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about a policy or law, clearly state the date or conditions under which it will "become effective" to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using future tenses redundantly. Instead of "will become effective in the future", simply state when it "will become effective".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "become effective" functions as a verb phrase, typically acting as the predicate of a sentence or clause. It indicates a transition into a state of effectiveness or operability. Ludwig confirms its widespread usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

23%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "become effective" is widely used, grammatically sound, and serves the purpose of indicating when something will start to produce the intended result. As confirmed by Ludwig, this phrase is commonly employed in various contexts, including news, science, and formal business settings. While alternatives like ""come into effect"" and ""take effect"" exist, "become effective" remains a direct and clear choice for conveying this meaning. It is important to use the correct tense and avoid redundancy. By understanding its function, purpose, and common errors, you can confidently use the phrase "become effective" in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

come into effect

Focuses on the start date of something without stating the efficiency.

take effect

Emphasizes the moment something starts to have an impact.

become operative

Uses a more formal term for 'effective'.

prove effective

Highlights the act of demonstrating effectiveness over time.

start working

Simplifies the concept to the basic level of functioning.

start to function effectively

Adds emphasis on process of becoming fully functional.

achieve effectiveness

Focuses on attaining a state of being effective.

develop efficacy

Highlights the process of improving efficiency.

begin to have an effect

Shows the beginning of impact.

grow in effectiveness

Highlights a gradual improvement in effectiveness.

FAQs

How can I use "become effective" in a sentence?

You can use "become effective" to describe when a rule, law, or strategy starts to produce the desired result. For instance, "The new regulations will "become effective" next month".

What are some alternatives to saying "become effective"?

Alternatives include "come into effect", "take effect", or "become operative", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it correct to say "become effect" instead of "become effective"?

No, "become effect" is incorrect. "Effective" is an adjective that describes something producing a desired result, while "effect" is typically a noun or a verb meaning 'to cause'. Use ""become effective"" to indicate something is starting to work as intended.

What is the difference between "become effective" and "is effective"?

"Become effective" describes the transition to a state of being effective, indicating a future or ongoing change. "Is effective" describes a current state of being already effective. For example, "The training will "become effective" after several weeks", versus "The training is effective immediately".