The phrase “to that effect” is a common English expression used when sharing the general meaning of someone’s words without repeating their exact wording. For example, you might use words to that effect when reporting what someone said or paraphrasing a statement. However, many English learners confuse to that effect with to that affect because these words sound similar. Understanding the correct phrase, its phrase meaning, and its real sentence usage helps you avoid common grammar mistakes.
In this grammar guide, you will learn the to that effect meaning, explore example sentences, and understand how contextual meaning shapes correct word usage. You will also discover the difference between effect and affect, including effect as a noun and affect as a verb, with clear examples. Additionally, these practical grammar tips will help you choose the right words, improve English writing, and communicate ideas with greater clarity and accuracy.
Quick Answer
“To that effect” is correct.
“To that affect” is not the standard form of the expression.
Use to that effect when you mean:
- with a similar meaning
- along those lines
- expressing roughly the same idea
- in words with approximately that meaning
- in a statement conveying that general message
For example:
“She said she wanted to postpone the meeting, or words to that effect.”
This doesn’t mean she used those exact words. Instead, it tells the reader that the statement being reported had approximately that meaning. Cambridge Dictionary gives the same basic explanation for the expression and includes “words to that effect” as a common construction.
The easiest rule to remember
When you’re talking about the general meaning of someone’s words, choose effect.
When you’re talking about something influencing or changing something, choose affect.
Compare:
- “His comments had an effect on the audience.”
- “His comments affected the audience.”
- “He made comments to that effect.”
The third sentence uses a fixed expression. That’s why effect belongs there.
Comparison Overview
The difference becomes much easier when you see the words side by side.
| Expression | Correct? | Meaning | Example |
| to that effect | Yes | With a similar meaning or general idea | “She made a statement to that effect.” |
| words to that effect | Yes | Words conveying approximately the same meaning | “He told us to leave, or words to that effect.” |
| something to that effect | Yes | Something similar in meaning or nature | “She mentioned a deadline or something to that effect.” |
| to that affect | No, in the standard expression | Not the established idiom | Avoid it in ordinary writing. |
| affect something | Yes | To influence or change something | “The delay affected production.” |
| effect | Yes | A result or consequence | “The delay had an effect on production.” |
| effect something | Yes, but formal | To cause or bring something about | “The policy effected significant changes.” |
The key point is that effect and affect can both be correct English words. The problem arises when you put the wrong one into an established phrase.
Oxford describes “to the effect that” and “to this/that effect” as expressions used when someone gives the general meaning of what another person said or wrote rather than the exact words.
Main Differences Between “To That Effect” and “To That Affect”
The biggest difference isn’t simply spelling. The words serve different grammatical purposes.
“To That Effect” Refers to Meaning
In this expression, effect connects to the sense or substance conveyed by a statement.
Imagine that your friend says:
“I don’t think I’m going to attend the party because I have too much work.”
You don’t need to repeat the whole sentence. You might say:
“She said she wouldn’t be able to come, or something to that effect.”
The second statement summarizes the first.
The phrase acts almost like a verbal shortcut. Instead of reproducing every word, you give the reader the general message.
Cambridge specifically describes the phrase as a way of reporting a short and general form of what was actually said.
“Affect” Usually Means “Influence”
Affect is normally a verb.
It describes an action in which something influences, changes, or has an impact on something else.
For example:
- “The weather affected attendance.”
- “The noise affected my concentration.”
- “The price increase affected demand.”
- “Lack of sleep can affect your performance.”
Oxford defines affect as producing a change in someone or something.
That meaning doesn’t fit the structure “to that affect.”
There isn’t an influencing action taking place in the expression. You’re talking about the meaning conveyed by words.
That’s why “to that effect” wins the grammar battle.
What Does “To That Effect” Mean?
At its core, “to that effect” means “with approximately that meaning.”
It doesn’t necessarily mean that two statements use the same words. They simply communicate a similar idea.
Consider this example:
“The customer said the product wasn’t worth the money, or words to that effect.”
The writer isn’t claiming that the customer used those exact words. The statement summarizes the customer’s general position.
You can think of “to that effect” as a bridge between an exact quotation and a paraphrase.
Exact quotation
“I’m not paying another dollar for this.”
Paraphrase
The customer said he refused to pay anything more.
Approximate report
The customer said something to that effect.
Each version communicates information differently.
The first preserves the speaker’s exact language. The second summarizes the meaning. The third signals that the speaker said something with approximately that meaning.
That subtle distinction makes “to that effect” particularly useful in reporting, storytelling, business writing, and everyday conversation.
“Words to That Effect” Explained
“Words to that effect” is one of the most familiar forms of the expression.
It means that someone used words conveying roughly the meaning you’ve just described.
For example:
“She told me she wasn’t interested in the offer, or words to that effect.”
The phrase doesn’t claim that she literally said, “I’m not interested in the offer.”
Instead, it communicates the gist.
Here are several natural examples:
- “He told me to mind my own business, or words to that effect.”
- “The doctor said I needed to get more rest, or words to that effect.”
- “My boss said the deadline couldn’t move, or words to that effect.”
- “They warned us that prices might increase, or words to that effect.”
Oxford gives a similar example involving someone telling another person to leave. The dictionary explains that the expression reports the general meaning rather than the exact words.
Why the phrase is useful
Sometimes exact wording doesn’t matter.
Perhaps you don’t remember the precise sentence. Maybe the speaker talked for five minutes and you only need to communicate the central message. Or perhaps reproducing the entire statement would interrupt the flow of your writing.
“Words to that effect” handles all three situations neatly.
However, don’t use it when exact wording carries legal, technical, historical, or evidentiary importance. In those settings, a precise quotation may matter enormously.
“Something to That Effect” Explained
“Something to that effect” works similarly but can sound broader.
For example:
“He mentioned that the company might relocate, or something to that effect.”
The speaker remembers the general idea but isn’t claiming perfect accuracy.
You could also say:
“She suggested changing the schedule or something to that effect.”
Here, the phrase indicates that the person suggested something similar to the idea already described.
“Words” vs. “something”
There’s a small practical distinction.
“Words to that effect” focuses specifically on language or a statement.
“Something to that effect” can sound broader and less tied to exact wording.
Compare:
“He told me the project was canceled, or words to that effect.”
This emphasizes what he said.
Now compare:
“He proposed postponing the launch, or something to that effect.”
This can refer to the general idea or suggestion rather than a specific sentence.
Both expressions help you avoid pretending that you remember an exact statement when you don’t.
Why “Affect” Gets Confused With “Effect”
The confusion has a few obvious causes.
First, affect and effect are visually similar. Change one letter and you have a different word.
Second, their pronunciation can be extremely similar in ordinary speech. In American English, the verb affect and the noun effect both commonly begin with an unstressed vowel sound followed by -fekt.
Third, both words relate to influence and change in certain contexts. That semantic overlap makes the distinction harder to remember.
Cambridge gives the conventional grammar distinction directly: affect generally functions as a verb meaning to influence or cause change, while effect generally functions as a noun meaning the result of an influence.
There is another wrinkle, too.
Effect can also function as a verb. Oxford notes that this use is formal and means to achieve or produce something.
For example:
“The negotiations eventually effected a peaceful transition.”
That doesn’t mean effect always functions as a noun. It means the basic classroom shortcut of “affect = verb, effect = noun” has an important exception.
Still, that exception doesn’t change the answer to the main question.
The established phrase remains “to that effect.”
Affect vs Effect: A Clear Grammar Guide
A simple comparison can make the distinction stick.
| Word | Usual grammatical role | Basic meaning | Example |
| affect | Verb | Influence or change | “Stress can affect your sleep.” |
| effect | Noun | Result or consequence | “Stress can have an effect on sleep.” |
| effect | Verb, formal | Cause or bring about | “The reforms effected major changes.” |
Affect as a verb
Use affect when something changes or influences something else.
Examples:
- “The storm affected air travel.”
- “The decision affected thousands of employees.”
- “Loud music affects my ability to concentrate.”
- “The delay affected the delivery schedule.”
Oxford’s American English dictionary defines affect as producing a change in someone or something.
See Also: Phoenix vs Pheonix: Which Spelling Is Correct?
Effect as a noun
Use effect when you’re talking about the resulting consequence.
Examples:
- “The storm had a major effect on air travel.”
- “The decision had a significant effect on employees.”
- “The medication had an immediate effect.”
- “The delay had little effect on the final schedule.”
Oxford defines effect as a change caused by something or a result.
Effect as a formal verb
This is less common but completely legitimate.
For example:
“The new agreement effected a major change in the organization.”
Here, effected means caused something to happen.
That’s different from:
“The new agreement affected the organization.”
In the first sentence, the agreement brought about a change. In the second, it influenced the organization.
That distinction can be useful in formal writing.
Common Mistakes With “To That Effect”
Knowing the correct spelling helps. Knowing the common traps helps even more.
Mistake 1: Writing “to that affect”
Incorrect:
“He made a statement to that affect.”
Correct:
“He made a statement to that effect.”
The first version uses a legitimate English word in the wrong expression.
Mistake 2: Writing “words to that affect”
Incorrect:
“She told him to leave, or words to that affect.”
Correct:
“She told him to leave, or words to that effect.”
This mistake appears frequently because affect feels plausible when you’re thinking about how words influence someone.
However, the established phrase uses effect.
Mistake 3: Treating “to that effect” as an exact quotation
Suppose someone says:
“We need to reconsider the entire project before moving forward.”
Reporting it as:
“He said the project needed reconsideration, or words to that effect.”
signals that the wording has been summarized.
That’s useful because it prevents a paraphrase from masquerading as a direct quotation.
Mistake 4: Using the phrase without a clear reference
The word “that” needs something to point toward.
Consider:
“They discussed several matters and made comments to that effect.”
What does that refer to?
The reader may have to work too hard to figure it out.
A clearer version might be:
“They discussed reducing expenses and made several comments to that effect.”
Now the reference is obvious.
“To That Effect” in Everyday Conversation
The expression works perfectly well in conversation. However, its tone can vary depending on the setting.
In casual speech, people often use simpler alternatives such as:
- “something like that”
- “something similar”
- “along those lines”
- “basically”
- “something to that effect”
For example:
“She said she’d call later or something like that.”
sounds more casual than:
“She said she’d call later, or words to that effect.”
Neither is inherently better. The right choice depends on your audience and tone.
Casual example
“He said he’d be there around eight or something to that effect.”
Workplace example
“The director made comments to that effect during the meeting.”
Formal example
“The report contains several recommendations to that effect.”
Reporting example
“The witness recalled hearing an argument, or words to that effect.”
The phrase becomes particularly useful when you need to sound precise about not being exact.
“To That Effect” in Professional and Formal Writing
In professional writing, the phrase can provide useful precision when used carefully.
Imagine a meeting summary:
“The client indicated that the current delivery schedule was unacceptable, or words to that effect.”
That wording tells readers that the writer has captured the substance without claiming to reproduce a verbatim statement.
In formal reports, though, clarity often matters more than elegance.
Instead of:
“The committee made several comments to that effect.”
you might write:
“The committee indicated that the proposal required further review.”
The second sentence tells the reader exactly what happened.
So “to that effect” isn’t automatically the best choice simply because it is grammatically correct. Use it when approximation genuinely serves the purpose.
A Practical Case Study: Why the Difference Matters
Consider a fictional workplace conversation.
During a meeting, an employee says:
“Given the current workload, I don’t think our team can complete the project by Friday.”
Later, a manager summarizes the discussion.
Version A: Exact quotation
“She said, ‘Given the current workload, I don’t think our team can complete the project by Friday.’”
This claims the wording is exact.
Version B: Paraphrase
“She said the team probably couldn’t finish the project by Friday.”
This conveys the meaning in different words.
Version C: Approximate statement
“She said something to that effect.”
This tells the reader that the speaker expressed a similar idea without providing the specific wording.
Each version has a different level of precision.
That’s why “to that effect” isn’t just a decorative phrase. It communicates uncertainty about the exact wording while preserving the general message.
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When “To That Effect” Sounds Natural
The phrase tends to work especially well when:
- You’re summarizing someone’s statement.
- You don’t remember the exact wording.
- The exact wording isn’t important.
- You’re paraphrasing a longer discussion.
- You’re reporting the gist of a conversation.
- You want to avoid presenting a paraphrase as a quotation.
For example:
“The customer said she expected a full refund, or words to that effect.”
That sentence efficiently communicates the customer’s general position.
When You Should Avoid It
Sometimes a more direct sentence works better.
Avoid relying on “to that effect” when the reader needs to know exactly what was said.
This includes situations involving:
- legal testimony
- contractual language
- safety instructions
- technical specifications
- official statements
- academic quotations
- disputed claims
- instructions where wording changes meaning
If precision matters, don’t hide behind a vague summary.
Instead, provide the exact quotation or a clear paraphrase.
For example:
“The label says the product must remain refrigerated.”
is much clearer than:
“The label says something to that effect.”
The latter leaves too much uncertainty.
Alternatives to “To That Effect”
English gives you several alternatives. Each carries a slightly different tone.
| Alternative | Best used when | Example |
| along those lines | You want a conversational alternative | “She said something along those lines.” |
| something similar | You want maximum simplicity | “He said something similar.” |
| something like that | You want casual speech | “She mentioned something like that.” |
| in that sense | You mean a similar interpretation | “His comments were similar in that sense.” |
| roughly speaking | You’re summarizing broadly | “Roughly speaking, that’s what happened.” |
| or words to that effect | You’re reporting approximate wording | “He told them to leave, or words to that effect.” |
“Along those lines”
This often sounds more conversational:
“She suggested changing the schedule along those lines.”
“Something similar”
This is straightforward and hard to misunderstand:
“He made a suggestion about something similar.”
“Something like that”
This sounds relaxed and natural in conversation:
“She said we’d need another week or something like that.”
“In that sense”
This has a more analytical feel:
“His argument was correct in that sense.”
The best alternative depends on whether you’re writing a text message, business email, report, article, or formal statement.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “to that effect” mean?
The phrase “to that effect” means expressing the general meaning of something without using the exact words. It helps communicate an idea through paraphrasing or reporting what someone said.
Is it “to that effect” or “to that affect”?
“To that effect” is the correct phrase in standard English. Here, effect is a noun that refers to a result or meaning, while affect is usually a verb that means to influence something.
How do you use “words to that effect” in a sentence?
Use “words to that effect” when you want to share the main idea of someone’s statement without quoting them exactly. For example: “The manager said the project needed more time, or words to that effect.”
What is the difference between effect and affect?
The main difference between effect and affect is their role in a sentence. Affect usually works as a verb meaning to influence, while effect usually works as a noun meaning a result or outcome.
Can you use “to that effect” in formal writing?
Yes, “to that effect” works in both formal and informal writing. It is useful when reporting what someone said, summarizing a statement, or sharing its general meaning without claiming to remember the exact wording.
Final Takeaway
Understanding the to that effect meaning helps you share ideas without repeating the exact wording. Remember, “to that effect” is the correct phrase when reporting someone’s words or expressing their general meaning. By learning the difference between effect and affect and using clear example sentences, you can avoid common grammar mistakes and improve your English writing.
