What does ineffective mean?
Word: Ineffective
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Ineffective means not producing the result that was wanted, or not doing a job well.
Synonyms: unsuccessful, fruitless
Antonyms: productive
How do you spell ineffective?
Syllables: in - ef - fec - tive
Tricky part: Only the f is doubled. The n at the front stays single, so the word opens in-ef, never in-nef, and a single f in the middle is just as wrong.
Watch out for: inefective, inneffective
Memory tip: Picture two f's standing side by side like a pair of friends, while the n at the front waits on its own.
Ineffective in a sentence
Example 1: The thin curtains were ineffective against the bright morning sun.
Example 2: Shouting at the puppy proved ineffective; calm, patient training worked far better.
Example 3: A short password like 12345 is an ineffective way to protect your account.
Fun Fact
Ineffective and inefficient are easy to mix up: a broom that sweeps the floor clean but takes all day is inefficient, while one that leaves the dust behind is ineffective.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell-o-Spell
Three of these words are spelt correctly. Choose the meaning of the misspelt one:
1. permanent 2. ineffective 3. negligable 4. temporary
a) lasting for only a short time
b) so small or unimportant that it is not worth thinking about
c) failing to work or to make the change someone hoped for
d) lasting for a very long time or for ever
Show answer
b) so small or unimportant that it is not worth thinking about. Negligable should end in ible, as negligible does.
Word Connection
Choose the word opposite in meaning to ineffective as used in the sentence:
Watering the garden by hand proved ineffective during the long dry spell, so the family set up a drip pipe instead.
a) pointless
b) useless
c) successful
d) feeble
Show answer
c) successful. Useless, feeble and pointless all say the same as ineffective; only successful means the opposite.
Word Cookie
Insert the correct pair of letters to form a word:
ineff_c_ive
a) e, t
b) i, t
c) e, s
d) a, t
Show answer
a) e, t. After the double f comes e, and the letter before ive is the t you hear in the word.
Word Cookie
Find the extra letter in the word:
ineffecktive
a) c
b) k
c) t
d) f
Show answer
b) k. The sound before the t is spelt with a c alone here, with no k after it.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. The school's "please switch off the lights" notices turned out to be ineffective. What most likely happened?
a) Lights were still left on in empty rooms.
b) The notices were all taken down at once.
c) The electricity bill went down that month.
d) Everyone began switching the lights off.
Show answer
a) Lights were still left on in empty rooms.
2. Which of these would be most ineffective at keeping you dry in heavy rain?
a) a thin cotton T-shirt
b) a raincoat with a hood
c) a sturdy umbrella
d) a waterproof jacket
Show answer
a) a thin cotton T-shirt
