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Advice vs advise

Advice is the noun (rhymes with “nice”). Advise is the verb (rhymes with “prize”).

advice

noun: a recommendation or opinion

Test: Can you put “some” or “a piece of” in front of it?

She gave me good advice.
Can I ask your advice?

advise

verb: to recommend or give advice

Test: Can you swap in “recommend”?

I advise you to wait.
The doctor advised rest.

Say it aloud: advi-CE ends in an “s” sound like “ice”; advi-SE ends in a “z” sound like “wise”. The wise person advises.

Test yourself

Five sentences. Apply the test above to each one before you pick.

Thanks for the _____.
We _____ all guests to book early.
Please _____ us of any changes.
My best piece of _____ is to sleep on it.
Her lawyer _____ her not to comment.

Pick an answer for each sentence.

“Advices” and other traps

“Advice” is uncountable in modern English, so “advices” is wrong in everyday writing: say “some advice” or “pieces of advice”. “Adviced” is never correct; the past tense is “advised”.

The same c/s pattern shows up in British English with practice (noun) and practise (verb), and licence/license. In American English, practice is used for both.

Adviser or advisor?

Both spellings are correct. “Adviser” is more common in British English and in AP style; “advisor” is common in American academic and business titles. Pick one and stay consistent.

Catch it automatically

The grammar checker flags common mix-ups like this one by looking at the words around them, and the sentence checker can explain any sentence you’re unsure about.

Questions people ask

Is it “give advise” or “give advice”?

“Give advice.” After “give”, you need the noun.

How do you pronounce advice and advise?

Advice ends in an s sound (ad-VICE); advise ends in a z sound (ad-VIZE).

Other grammar guides

Affect vs effectAffect is usually the verb. Effect is usually the noun.Its vs it’sIt’s = it is / it has. Its = belonging to it.Your vs you’reYou’re = you are. Your = belonging to you.Their, there and they’reTheir = belonging to them. There = place / “there is”. They’re = they are.Then vs thanThan compares things. Then tells you when.Whose vs who’sWho’s = who is / who has. Whose = belonging to whom.Principal vs principlePrinciple = a rule or belief. Principal = main, a head person, or a loan amount.Lose vs looseLose = misplace or not win (rhymes with “shoes”). Loose = not tight (rhymes with “goose”).Who vs whomWho does the action (he). Whom receives it (him).I.e. vs e.g.E.g. = for example (some of many). I.e. = that is (the exact thing).Farther vs furtherFarther = physical distance. Further = degree, time or “more”.Everyday vs every dayEveryday = ordinary (an adjective). Every day = each day.Complement vs complimentCompliment = praise. Complement = something that completes or suits.Into vs in toInto = movement inside or a change. In to = “in” (part of a verb) + “to”.Lay vs lieYou lay something down. You lie down yourself.Fewer vs lessFewer for countable things. Less for uncountable amounts.Accept vs exceptAccept = receive or agree to. Except = apart from.To, too and twoTo = direction or verb marker. Too = also / excessively. Two = 2.