Question

Which sentence is written correctly?

1. The student council wants to effect change in the dress code.
2. Receiving a good grade will affect the student's motivation.
3. Playing sports can have an effect on students' academic performance.

Answer 1

Affect vs Effect

Step-by-step explanation:

2 and 3 look correct to me but let me explain so you can decide.

Affect is happening so like it will affect me or don't let it affect your grade or whatever while effect is in past tense so like the effect of the war or whatever

Answer 2

All of the above

Step-by-step explanation:

Although the option isn't listed in the question, I see that you have commented that the fourth option, D. All of the above, exists.

The word effect can be both a noun and a verb. As a noun, it is often mixed up with the verb to affect (effect vs affect), but it can also be a verb meaning to cause something to happen. We could write the first sentence differently as: The student council wants to cause (= to effect) a change in the dress code.

Effect as a noun is used in the third sentence, and it means a change that is a result or consequence of an action (Playing sports can cause a change in (= have an effect on) students' academic performance).

In the second sentence, we have the verb to affect, which means to have an effect (Receiving a good grade will have an effect on (= affect) the student's motivation).