Advise vs. Advice: What’s the Difference?

Advise vs. Advice: What's the Difference? Image

Advise and advice are often used interchangeably in writing. However, doing so is certainly not advisable: these words represent two different parts of speech (verb and noun, respectively) and are even pronounced differently.

Read on for more on the difference between advise and advice so you can learn how to use each appropriately in writing and in speech.

Advise vs. Advice

The primary difference between advise and advice is summarized below:

  • Advise (pronounced ad-vize) is a verb, which means to give advice, or to make a suggestion or recommendation.
  • Advice (pronounced ad-vais) is a noun. It’s the thing that someone is offering when they advise. It’s a recommendation or suggestion.

Definition of Advise

Advise is a verb. It’s what guidance counselors, lawyers, and parents do regularly. (Oh, and don’t forget Tom Hagen in The Godfather).

From advise comes a number of related words, including:

  • Advisor (one who gives advice)
  • Advisory (containing advice, as in a winter weather advisory)
  • Advisee (one who is advised)
  • Advisable (reflecting wisdom; fit to be advised)

The phrase “please advise” (NOT “please advice”) is common in the workplace. It’s a request for suggestions or recommendations regarding how to proceed.

Examples of Advise in a Sentence

Below are more examples of how advise can be used in sentences:

  • I would advise you to stay home today; the weather looks nasty.
  • The president’s staff advised him to refrain from making any last-minute changes to his speech.
  • Please advise me on what I should do next.
  • He wanted to advise his brother responsibly, but he wasn’t sure how.
  • I feel it’s my responsibility to advise you.

Definition of Advice

Advice is a noun. It’s the thing that someone gives when they advise. Usually, it refers to recommendations regarding actions or decisions to be made.

The professions mentioned above—guidance counselors, lawyers, etc.—are all people who give advice. You may have also heard the expressions “sound advice” (meaning good advice), “pieces of advice” or “words of advice.”

Examples of Advice in a Sentence

Below are several examples of how advice can be used in sentences:

  • Her question was answered in the local newspaper’s advice column.
  • He loves to offer unsolicited advice, much to the annoyance of his coworkers.
  • Whenever I need advice, I go to my mom.
  • My counselor is great at giving advice about college applications.
  • Do you think that’s sound advice?

Take Our Advice

To remember which is the verb and which is the noun, you might remind yourself that many verbs end in –ise (compromise, exercise, despise, and many more, especially if you’re British) and many nouns end in –ice (such as vice, spice, or rice).

To review more confusing word pairs, check out our posts on farther vs. further, emigrate vs. immigrate, and more.

Did you find this post helpful? Let us know in the comments below!

 

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