Grammar 6 min read

Advice vs. Advise: Difference and How to use Each Correctly

Main Advise vs. Advice Takeaways:

  • Adviceand advisesound similar, but they’re not the same.
  • Advice is a noun, while advise is a verb.
  • You can giveadvice to someone, or you can advise someone.
  • Please advise or kindly advise are requests for information. Some people don’t mind these phrases, while others consider them abrupt or passive aggressive.
  • Please be advised is a phrase used to share information with a formal tone.

Do you advice someone, or do you advise them? Do you receive advise or advice? Although the English language makes a distinction between advise and advice, it is not always easy to tell the difference because they are both commonly used in everyday conversations. However, understanding the difference between advice vs. advise is the key to knowing how each word should be used. In this post, we’ll cover the difference between these two words plus when and how you should use them.

I’dadviceyou not to give me anymoreadviseabout proper English!
I’dadviseyou not to give me anymoreadviceabout proper English!
Tom gave meadviseduring the quiz.
We seekadvicewhen we don’t know what to do.
I’m not sure which address to use. Please advise.
Please be advised that the meeting time has changed from 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Advise vs. advice. Advise with s is a verb. Advice with c is a noun. A guy giving his distraught friend advice.
Advise with an ‘s’ is a verb and is used when recommending something. On the other hand, advice with a ‘c’ is a noun and refers to the suggestion or recommendation itself.

What’s the Difference Between Advice and Advise?

On the surface, advice and advise sound the same, but they are actually different in meaning. Besides their difference in spelling and pronunciation, they also answer different questions. Advice (c pronounced as s) is a noun. It refers to the opinion or suggestion that you give or receive from someone. Advise (s pronounced as z), on the other hand, is a verb. It refers to the actual act of giving information and guidance to someone.

Uncle Charlieadvicedus to take the scenic route.
Aunt Sueadvisedthat we follow the satnav.
Marthaadvisesthat we meet on top of the hill.
My doctor’s advise was to take vitamins and drink lots of water.
Thank you for theadviceyou gave me years ago.
“Please be advised that all trains are currently running with a thirty-minute delay,” boomed the station loudspeaker.

Do You Advise or Advice?

You can advise (with an ‘s‘) because advise is a verb. You can’t advice (with a ‘c‘) because this word is a noun. In other words, advice is a noun — it’s a thing.Advise is a transitive or an intransitive verb — it’s a “doing word.” You can’t chair someone, but you can give them a chair. Similarly, you can’t advice someone, but you can give them advice.

Iadviseyou not to comment on my spelling or my test results.
Myadvicewould be to practice your grammar and continue revising for your English test.
I understand you’re the person to ask foradvise.
Please share someadviceabout college degrees.
The used car salesman sauntered over toadviceus.

Advice vs. Advise Pronunciation Guide

These two words look alike, but they sound different when spoken aloud.

👀 On one hand, the ‘s‘ in advise is almost pronounced like a ‘z‘ (add-VYZ). If it rhymes with the word “eyes,” you know you’re pronouncing advise correctly.

🧊 On the other hand, the ‘c‘ in advice is pronounced like an ‘s‘ (add-VICE). If it rhymes with the word “ice,” you know you’re pronouncing advice correctly.

How Do You Use Advice and Advise in a Sentence?

Here are the best examples of how to use advice and advise in a sentence:

You asked for my opinion, and Iadvisedyou not to park on the grass.
I’d like you to give meadviceabout certain words in English, including pronouns.
Pleaseadviceme how to use my spell checker.
I’m no longer confused aboutadvise vs. advice.
Myadvice? Use a grammar checker.
The author gives questionableadviceabout principles.
Mark’s fatheradvisedhim to budget properly.
A man giving his sad-looking son some advice.
You can’t advice someone, but you can ‘give them advice.’

Is Please Advise Rude?

The phrase “please advise” is a succinct request for information or guidance, and isn’t necessarily rude. However, it depends on the context as well as the speaker’s tone, intention, and style. For instance, some may take it as too short, blunt, demanding, or even passive aggressive. Moreover, some consider it redundant and would prefer a direct question. On the other hand, it can also stand in for “let me know” (Should you have any questions, please advise).

Let’s look at a few examples of “please advise” in action:

If you have any questions about American English,please advise.
Please adviseme when you intend to pay your share of the overdue electricity bill.

In the first instance, “please advise” comes across as benign and a little dry, but not rude. In the second instance, the reader knows they’re in trouble. Tone can be hard to read via email, so if you’re in doubt, use a different phrase.

What is Another Word for Advice?

Here are other names and synonyms for the noun advice:

  • Guidance
  • A recommendation/some recommendations
  • Input
  • An opinion/your opinion
  • Some help
  • A suggestion/some suggestions
  • A tip/some tips
  • A word of wisdom
  • Some pearls of wisdom

Advise vs. Advice Recap

Is it advice or advise?Advise and advice are two words that frequently cause authors confusion. Notwithstanding, advise and advice play slightly different roles: they’re similar — but they’re not the same. For instance, you can advise someone, or you can give them advice.

When to Use Advice (with a ‘c’):

  • When you need a noun, use advice.
  • Advice is a noun, or an object, like a cupcake. You give someone advice; you give someone a cupcake.

When to Use Advise (with an ‘s’):

  • When you need a verb, use advise.
  • To advise is a verb that means to give advice.
  • You advise someone; you direct someone.

Feeling clearer about advise vs. advice? Test your grammar knowledge with our quick quiz below.

Advice and Advice Question #1

You can use "advise" and "advice" interchangeably in a sentence.
Correct! Wrong!

The answer is FALSE. Although "advice" and "advise" sound similar, they're not the same.

Advise or Advice Question #2

Which of these is a verb?
Correct! Wrong!

The answer is B. "Advise" functions in a sentence as a verb.

Advice or Advise Question #3

Complete the sentence. I’d __ you not to tell her.
Correct! Wrong!

The answer is B. "Advise" means to give a recommendation.

Advice vs Advise Question #4

If it rhymes with “eyes” you’re pronouncing ___.
Correct! Wrong!

The answer is B. The “s” in “advise” is almost pronounced like a “z.”

Advice and Advise Question #5

Complete the sentence. Please, I need your ____.
Correct! Wrong!

The answer is A. "Advice" refers to the suggestion or a recommendation itself.

Advise vs Advice Question #6

The phrase "please advise" is rude.
Correct! Wrong!

The answer is FALSE. "Please advise" is a concise request for information.

Advise vs. Advice Quiz Result
Expert!

Expert!

Not bad!

Not bad!

Almost got it! Review the article and try again.

Almost got it! Review the article and try again.

Read More: 📊 Than vs. Then ⏰ How to Tell the Difference Once and for all

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Pam Weber

Pam is an expert grammarian with years of experience teaching English, Writing and ESL Grammar courses at the university level. She is enamored with all things language and fascinated with how we use words to shape our world.

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