Which word means the result or consequence of an action?

• A. Affect
• B. Effect
• C. Potholes
• D. Quotas

Answer: (B)

Think about what happens as a result of an action. The word that names that outcome is effect. It’s a noun used to describe the result or consequence produced by something: for example, taking a vitamin may have the effect of improving energy. A common pitfall is mixing it up with affect, which means to influence or produce a change (usually used as a verb). The other two choices don’t fit because they refer to unrelated things—potholes are holes in a road, and quotas are fixed numbers to hit. So the word that best matches “the result or consequence of an action” is effect.