Efficiency and results in English

The idea

Efficient means using resources well with little waste; effective means producing the intended result.

Examples

• The efficient dishwasher cleans the plates using little water.
• An effective alarm woke the campers before the river flooded.
• Mina found an efficient route that saved fuel and time.
• The posters were effective: more neighbours came to the meeting.
• The team was efficient at sorting parcels, but sent them to the wrong addresses.
• The treatment was effective, although it took months and many appointments.

Watch out

A fast process can be efficient without being effective if it produces the wrong result.

Try it yourself

1. Choose the correct word. The new oven uses much less electricity to bake the same bread, so it is more ___. (efficient / effective)

   Show answer or example answer

   efficient

   efficient: The oven bakes the same bread with less electricity.

2. Choose the correct word. The safety campaign reached its goal of reducing accidents, so it was ___. (efficient / effective)

   Show answer or example answer

   effective

   effective: The campaign achieved its accident-reduction goal.

3. Choose the correct word. The filing system saves staff hours each week while handling the same workload; it is ___. (efficient / effective)

   Show answer or example answer

   efficient

   efficient: The system handles the workload in fewer staff hours.

Use it today

Describe a process that saves time and a measure that achieves its goal.