effect the outcome

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "effect the outcome" is not correct in standard English; the correct phrase is "affect the outcome." You can use "affect the outcome" when discussing how one factor influences or changes the result of a situation or event.
Example: "The new policy is expected to significantly affect the outcome of the election."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

"And if you treat them in sporadic fashion, without the team effect, the outcome will be very bad".

The New York Times

"When I played it was not so much inflicting pain or injury as it was making a good play to effect the outcome of the game," Meggyesy said.

The Guardian - Sport

The effect the outcome will have on homecourt advantage in the playoffs is difficult to predict, but the psychological fallout was easier to see.

The New York Times - Sports

Climategate had no such catharsis, because it revealed no sin so heinous.Climategate did not materially effect the outcome of Copenhagen.

The Economist

I want to do what's necessary to effect the outcome!' " When I asked Soros why he hadn't just written a check for the whole seventy-five million, he said, "I thought ten would do".

The New Yorker

Results of a poll in the report records 72% of respondents saying they cannot effect the outcome of the nuclear weapons debate so they do not engage on the issue.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

In addition, the liner valuables (RBH, SW, IL) that may effect the outcomes of BH were measured.

International Journal of Implant Dentistry

Emphasis Added on VICE News brings together a group of journalists, academics and other smart folks to argue about the role the media play in actually effecting the outcome of the stories they cover. .

Vice

The men in color (hardly anyone of the judges wore black this time around), did not discriminate when it came to making bad calls, and they effected the outcome of almost every match.

Huffington Post

In the fixed effects, the outcome is related to exposure and confounders using the usual linear regression.

British Medical Journal

However, presumably due to the increased rate of side effects, the outcome regarding survival is not essentially different.

Annals of Hematology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always double-check whether you intend to use "affect" (verb, meaning to influence) or "effect" (noun, meaning a result). Using the wrong one can change the meaning of your sentence.

Common error

Avoid using "effect" as a verb. The word "effect" is most commonly used as a noun. Instead, use "affect" to indicate that something is influencing the outcome.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "effect the outcome" functions incorrectly as it uses "effect" as a verb. In standard English, the verb form should be "affect". This phrase aims to describe the act of influencing or bringing about a particular result. Ludwig AI indicates that this is incorrect.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Science

41%

Formal & Business

18%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "effect the outcome" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. The correct usage involves using "affect" as the verb, meaning to influence. Ludwig AI confirms this assessment. Although examples of "effect the outcome" appear in various sources like News & Media and Science, it's crucial to use "affect the outcome" instead to maintain grammatical accuracy. Remember that "effect" is primarily a noun. Using "influence the outcome" or "impact the outcome" are good alternative choices.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

affect the outcome

Uses the correct verb, "affect", to indicate influence.

influence the outcome

Replaces "effect" with "influence", a more common and grammatically correct verb.

impact the outcome

Substitutes "effect" with "impact", another suitable verb for showing influence.

determine the outcome

Emphasizes a stronger level of influence, suggesting a decisive role.

shape the outcome

Implies a formative influence, molding the final result.

alter the outcome

Indicates a change to the result.

change the outcome

Simple substitution indicating transformation in the result.

sway the outcome

Suggests a persuasive influence on the result.

control the outcome

Implies direct management and influence over the final result.

have a bearing on the outcome

Uses a more formal idiom to suggest an influence or relevance to the final result.

FAQs

What's the correct way to use "affect" and "effect" in relation to an outcome?

"Affect" is a verb that means to influence something. "Effect" is usually a noun that refers to a result. To correctly phrase it, say "affect the outcome".

What can I say instead of "effect the outcome"?

You can use alternatives like "influence the outcome", "impact the outcome", or "determine the outcome".

Which is correct: "affect the outcome" or "effect the outcome"?

"Affect the outcome" is correct. "Affect" is a verb that means to have an influence on something. "Effect" is typically a noun, meaning the result of a change.

How does using "affect" differ from "effect" when talking about results?

Using "affect" indicates you are influencing or changing something, as in "The policy will affect the outcome". Using "effect" as a verb is rare; it generally means to bring about or accomplish something, which is not the intended meaning in most contexts involving outcomes.