Effective vs. Efficient

I wonder whether you have encountered these two words before. Have you? Well, let's what we can learn from them.

What Is Their Main Difference?

Both of these refer to something providing the desired result. However, we use 'effective' when we try something and we get what we want, but it may not be the quickest, simplest, or easiest way. However, when something is efficient, it provides the desired result in the quickest, simplest and cheapest way.

Differences

When something is 'effective', it gives us the result we want but it may take lots of time, energy, waste, etc. However, when something is 'efficient', it gives us the result we want with the least amount of energy, and waste, and in the quickest way possible. Check out the following examples:

An effective way to eliminate the air pollution is to wipe out all humanity.

Unfortunately, the method was not efficient. It took us days to understand it properly.

Similarities

Both of them describe something that gave us the desired result. Look below:

Escaping from reality might be effective for some time, but definitely not efficient.

I plan on inventing more efficient machinery for factories.

Are They Interchangeable?

Although they both refer to providing the desired results, they cannot be used interchangeably. 'Effective' refers to using any kind of material to provide the desired result, whereas, 'efficient' points out that the desired result has been provided using the least materials. The examples below are both correct but they have different meanings. Compare:

✓ The church announced an efficient way to lessen witchcraft in the city.

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