have affect

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have affect" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct term is "have an effect," which is used to indicate that something has an influence or impact on something else. Example: "The new policy will have an effect on employee productivity."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

The tension could have affect customers.

The New York Times

She had expected to negotiate the 'Ndrangheta way: reveal little of what you have, affect nonchalance, and eventually extract as much as possible for as little as possible.

The New Yorker

The additional work for the special edition of "S.N.L". on Feb. 1 will not have affect the show's regular Saturday edition that week because no live show is scheduled for Feb. 3.

The New York Times - Arts

It responded much as its big tech colleagues have: affect shock, assure users this was never intended and promise action.

TechCrunch

The findings of historical geographers can provide origins, processes and causes of environmental crises to help environmental historians to construct their stories which will help today's people understand how human activities in the past as well as in the present have affect the Earth's environment and how they should do to prevent further deterioration of the our environment.

Journal of Chinese Studies

"I thus still retain my prejudice: Underwear have affect on your ejaculation during a dream," Unionac wrote in one post.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

They have affecting moments.

The New York Times

That crack might have affected the reactor".

Independent

These concerns have affected newsrooms everywhere.

The New Yorker

These fears have affected behavior.

The Guardian

Plenty of them have affecting musical lines.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "have an effect on" instead of "have affect". Remember that "affect" is typically a verb, while "effect" is typically a noun. For example: "The weather will "have an effect on" the crops."

Common error

Avoid using "affect" as a noun. The phrase "have affect" is incorrect because "affect" is generally a verb. Instead, use "have an effect", where "effect" is a noun.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have affect" attempts to express causation or influence. However, it is grammatically flawed as it incorrectly uses "affect" (primarily a verb) in a context where a noun is required. Ludwig indicates that this phrase is not correct in standard written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

33.3%

Science

55.6%

Wiki

5.6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "have affect" is a common grammatical error. As Ludwig points out, the correct form is ""have an effect on"" or simply "affect" (as a verb). The confusion arises from incorrectly using "affect" as a noun. While the phrase appears across various sources, including news and scientific publications, its consistent misuse makes it grammatically incorrect. Remember that while the intention might be understood, using the correct grammar ensures clarity and credibility in your writing. To avoid this error, always remember that "affect" is typically a verb, and "effect" is typically a noun. If you want to use "effect" with "have", ensure you include "an" before it. For clarity and correctness, consider using alternative phrases like "have an impact on" or rephrasing the sentence to use "influence" or "affect" as a verb.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have an effect on

Replaces "affect" (verb) with "effect" (noun) in a grammatically correct construction. Adds "on" to specify the target of the effect.

have an impact on

Substitutes "effect" with "impact", another noun indicating influence, while maintaining grammatical correctness.

influence

Replaces the entire phrase with a single verb, "influence", directly expressing the action of affecting something.

affect

Uses the verb "affect" correctly, without the auxiliary verb "have", to indicate causing a change or influence.

have influence on

Replaces "affect" with the noun "influence", using a grammatically correct structure.

have consequences for

Focuses on the results or outcomes of an action, rather than the direct influence.

exert influence on

Emphasizes the active application of influence.

bear on

A more formal way of saying have an effect on something.

carry weight with

Implies that something is important or influential to someone.

play a role in

Indicates partial influence within a larger process.

FAQs

What's the proper way to say something influences something else?

Instead of the incorrect "have affect", use ""have an effect on"". For example, "The new policy will "have an effect on" employee morale".

Is it correct to say "have affect"?

No, "have affect" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrase is "have an effect". "Affect" is primarily a verb, while "effect" is a noun.

What are some alternatives to "have an effect on"?

You can use alternatives such as "influence", "impact", or "affect" (as a verb). For instance, "The decision "influenced" the outcome".

Which is correct, "have affect" or "affect"?

"Affect" is correct when used as a verb. "Have affect" is incorrect. For example, "The weather "affects" my mood" is correct.