Many English learners (and even native speakers) confuse the words “advice” and “advise.” These two look similar but play very different roles in a sentence. The key to using them correctly is understanding that one is a noun and the other is a verb.
This article breaks down the grammatical rules, common usage, and mistakes involving “advice” and “advise.” As the Baltimore Chronicle notes, mastering word distinctions like these improves both spoken and written communication.
What Does “Advice” Mean and How Is It Used?
The word “advice” is a noun. It refers to a suggestion or recommendation given to someone about what they should do. You can give advice, ask for advice, or take advice, but you cannot “advice” someone — that’s incorrect.
Examples of “Advice” in a Sentence:
- She gave me some helpful advice.
- Can I ask for your advice about something?
- His advice really helped me make the right choice.
Note that “advice” is an uncountable noun — you don’t say “an advice” or “two advices.” Instead, use phrases like “some advice,” “a piece of advice,” or “a bit of advice.”
Synonyms of “Advice”:
- Recommendation
- Tip
- Guidance
- Suggestion
What Does “Advise” Mean and How Is It Used?
“Advise” is a verb. It means to offer suggestions or guidance to someone — it’s the action of giving advice. You can advise a person, company, or even a government on what to do.
Examples of “Advise” in a Sentence:
- I strongly advise you to study for the exam.
- Doctors advise patients to get regular checkups.
- She advised me not to invest all my money in one place.
Unlike “advice,” which is a thing, “advise” is something you do.
Verb Forms of “Advise”:
| Tense | Example |
|---|---|
| Base form | I advise caution. |
| Past tense | He advised against going alone. |
| Present tense | She advises her students daily. |
| -ing form | He is advising on legal matters. |
Key Differences Between “Advice” and “Advise”
Here’s a quick overview to make the distinction easier to remember:
| Word | Part of Speech | Pronunciation | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advice | Noun | /ədˈvaɪs/ (soft “s”) | That was great advice. |
| Advise | Verb | /ədˈvaɪz/ (z sound) | I advise you to wait. |
Quick Tips to Remember:
- “Advice” ends in -ce like “ice” — something you can give or get.
- “Advise” ends in -se — a verb, so you can do it.
- Pronunciation helps too: “advice” ends in an “s” sound, “advise” ends in a “z” sound.
Common Mistakes with “Advice” and “Advise”
Mistake 1: Using “advice” as a verb
Incorrect: He adviced me to leave early.
Correct: He advised me to leave early.
Mistake 2: Using “advise” as a noun
Incorrect: Let me give you an advise.
Correct: Let me give you some advice.
Mistake 3: Mispronunciation
People often pronounce both words the same, but proper pronunciation helps reinforce their difference.
How to Avoid These Mistakes:
- Check if the word is doing something (a verb) — then use advise.
- If it’s a thing you give or receive — use advice.
- When in doubt, substitute with “recommendation” or “suggest” and see if it fits.
Real-Life Context: Advice vs. Advise in Use
At Work:
- Manager’s advice helped me improve my performance.
- HR advised the team about new policies.
In Health:
- Doctors offer advice on healthy living.
- Nurses often advise patients to rest.
In School:
- The teacher gave great advice on writing essays.
- She advised me to read more academic articles.
These examples show how both words are useful — just in very different grammatical roles.
Tips for ESL Learners and Writers
For English learners and writers, this pair can be tricky. Here are some simple strategies:
- Create flashcards with example sentences for each word.
- Record yourself saying each word and check pronunciation.
- Test yourself by filling in the blank:
- I always give good _____.
- I would _____ you to take the train.
- Use grammar tools like Grammarly or Quillbot to catch errors.
- Practice with real sentences from books, news, or online forums.
Summary Table
| Feature | Advice | Advise |
|---|---|---|
| Part of Speech | Noun | Verb |
| Use in a Sentence | Give/receive advice | Advise someone to act |
| Pronunciation | /s/ sound | /z/ sound |
| Countable? | No | Not applicable |
| Example | Some good advice | He advised caution |
Earlier we wrote about why pleonasms occur.