Meaning & use
it will take effect
Last updated
Meanings
phrasefixed phrase
Used to say that a rule, law, agreement, or medicine will begin to work or apply at a future time.
Grammar: 'It' refers to a thing already mentioned; the phrase has no object and is often followed by a time expression: it will take effect on Monday.
Patterns
- it will take effect on a date
- it will take effect immediately
- it will take effect from a date
The new tax law was passed in March, and it will take effect in January.
Do not worry about the fee yet; it will take effect only after you sign the contract.
The doctor said the painkiller is slow, so it will take effect in about half an hour.
phrasefixed phrase
Used about a change or decision that will start to have results or influence.
Grammar: The subject can also be a plural or a noun phrase, but the verb stays 'take effect': the changes will take effect.
Patterns
- the changes will take effect
- it will take effect soon
The company announced the pay rise, but it will take effect next quarter.
Once the manager signs, it will take effect across all departments.
Common combinations
- take effect immediately
- The ban will take effect immediately after the vote.
- take effect from a date
- The discount will take effect from 1 May.
- take effect on signing
- The deal will take effect on signing, not on delivery.
- come into effect
- Similar rules came into effect last year, so people are used to them.
- take effect retroactively
- The court ruled that the change will take effect retroactively.
Synonyms and how they differ
- come into effect
- Very close in meaning, but it describes the moment a rule starts and is less common with 'will' in speech.
- apply
- Use 'apply' when you mean the rule is relevant to someone; 'take effect' stresses the starting time.
- kick in
- Informal and common for medicine or machines, not suitable for laws in formal writing.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: it will take effect or affect?
it will take effect vs affect
'Affect' is a verb meaning to influence something, while 'effect' in this phrase is a noun inside a fixed verb phrase. People write 'it will take affect' by mistake; the correct form is 'take effect'.
Practice
Choose the best sentence.
Choose one answer.
'Take effect' is the fixed phrase and keeps the singular noun 'effect' with no article. 'Take affect' confuses the noun with the verb 'affect', 'effects' wrongly pluralizes the fixed phrase, and 'effecting' is not a form of this phrase.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “it will take effect”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.