Take effect means to come into force (about a law, rule or decision) or to start working (about a medicine). The phrase tells you when something begins to work.
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law/rule/change + takes effect (on/from + date); medicine + takes effect (after + time); have an effect on + noun
- The new parking rules take effect on the first of March.
- The painkiller took effect after twenty minutes, and I finally fell asleep.
- The price increase will take effect from next month, so book your tickets now.
What changed
First versionThe new law will take an effect in January.
RevisionThe new law will take effect in January.
The article slips in out of habit, because effect is a countable noun: an effect. But take effect is a fixed phrase without an article: the law takes effect, the medicine took effect.
The article is needed in have an effect on something, meaning to influence it: Sleep has a big effect on memory. Take effect has no object and describes the moment something starts to work. There's one more trap nearby: affect is a verb meaning to influence, and it doesn't fit in take effect.
Your turn
The doctor said the painkiller would ___ in about half an hour.
Show the answer
take effect — The fixed phrase uses the noun effect. Affect is a verb meaning to influence, and it isn't used after take.
Write about a new rule at work, at school or in your town. Say when it takes effect and what will change.
The new library rules take effect on 1 September, and students will need an ID card to enter after 8 p.m.
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