Cool MateAffect vs Put this big a dent
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Affect
Top 2,000 (common)A2verb
Put this big a dent
Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Most common: Affect
| Affect | Put this big a dent | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/əˈfekt/","/əˈfekts/","/əˈfektɪd/","/əˈfektɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əˈfekt/","/əˈfekts/","/əˈfektɪd/","/əˈfektɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //pʊt ðɪs bɪg ə dɛnt//🇺🇸 //pʊt ðɪs bɪg ə dɛnt// |
| Meaning | to change or influence something | to make a significant impact or change. |
| Example | The weather can greatly affect our mood. | His donation really put this big a dent in our fundraising efforts. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | dramatically, greatly, materially, be likely to, deeply, profoundly | put a dent in, put this big a dent, make a dent |
| Antonyms | preserve, remain, maintain | ignore, neglect |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'affect' vs 'effect', 'Affect' used as a noun instead of a verb, Using 'affect' with an incorrect subject | Confused with 'put a dent in' which is more common., Using 'big' incorrectly as an adverb., Omitting 'a' before 'dent'. |
| Usage notes | Use 'affect' to describe how one thing changes another. It is not interchangeable with 'effect', which is a result. Avoid using 'affect' as a noun. | Often used metaphorically to describe making a noticeable difference in a situation. Suitable for both spoken and written contexts. Avoid in overly formal situations. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Affect vs Put this big a dent
What's the difference between Affect and Put this big a dent?
Affect: to change or influence something Put this big a dent: to make a significant impact or change.
Which is more common: Affect and Put this big a dent?
Affect is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Affect: The weather can greatly affect our mood. Put this big a dent: His donation really put this big a dent in our fundraising efforts.
Can I use Affect and Put this big a dent interchangeably?
Not always. Affect and Put this big a dent are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.