Advice vs Advise: Which One Do You Need?
Advice is the noun — the thing you give. Advise is the verb — what you do.
She gave good advice. I advise caution.
The test that settles it
Listen to the ending. Advice ends in an S sound, like ice. Advise ends in a Z sound, like wise. The spelling follows the sound.
“a piece of ___” → a thing you can have a piece of, so the noun: advice.
“I would ___ against it” → an action, so the verb: advise.
The c word is a thing; the s word is an action. The same pattern runs through practice / practise and licence / license in British spelling.
Advice: the noun
An opinion offered about what someone should do. It is uncountable, so you cannot have an advice or advices.
Can I ask your advice?
That was excellent advice.
He ignored every piece of advice he was given.
Swap in guidance. If it works, advice.
Advise: the verb
To recommend a course of action, or in formal use to inform. It conjugates: advises, advised, advising.
I would advise you to wait.
The doctor advised rest.
Please advise us of any changes.
Swap in recommend. If it works, advise.
Side by side
| Advice | Advise |
|---|---|
| Noun | Verb |
| Ends in an S sound | Ends in a Z sound |
| Uncountable — never advices | Takes endings: advised, advising |
| Good advice | I advise you |
Where people get it wrong
| Incorrect | Correct | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Can you advice me? | Can you advise me? | You want the action. |
| He gave me some good advise. | He gave me some good advice. | A thing, so the noun. |
| Thanks for your advises. | Thanks for your advice. | The noun has no plural. |
| an advice | a piece of advice | Uncountable nouns need a measure word. |
Practice — choose the right word, then check yourself.
- She refused to take his ___.
- I ___ you to read the terms first.
- What is your ___ on this?
- The lawyer ___ against settling.
- That is sound ___.
Show the answers
1. advice 2. advise 3. advice 4. advised 5. advice
Frequently asked
Is advices ever correct?
Only in old commercial writing, where advices meant reports or notifications. In modern English it reads as an error.
Which other pairs work this way?
Practice / practise, licence / license and prophecy / prophesy follow the same noun-with-c, verb-with-s rule in British spelling. American spelling collapses the first two.
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