"Advice" and "Advise": What's the Difference? [Updated]

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"Advice" and "advise" are another of the many tricky word pairs English learners should pay special attention to. One small letter changes the pronunciation, meaning and usage, so be careful!

This post will take a closer look at this pair and some words closely related to it.

Advice

Let's begin with definitions. "Advice" is a noun that means "a suggestion or opinion about what someone should do." It's pronounced with two short syllables, the last one sounding like "ice" or "dice."

Of the two main words we're discussing in this article, "advice" is more commonly used in daily conversations. Look at the examples below:

My aunt always gives me good life advice.

I asked my doctor for advice on how to lose weight.

I don't know what to do. Can you give me some advice?

You can ask for advice for serious situations and for things that aren't especially important, so it's a very useful word.

We use the expression "take (someone's) advice" when we accept someone's suggestion.

I wish I took your advice. Buying that used car was a bad idea.

Note that advice is uncountable. That means saying "a/an advice" is incorrect. Instead, you can say "a piece of advice."

Let me give you a piece of advice: Spend more time outdoors and away from screens.

Advise

A doctor looking over a patient's records

Unlike "advice," "advise" is a verb. It also has two syllables, but the second syllable is longer and sounds like "eyes" or "tries."

"Advise" has a slightly formal nuance and means "to offer suggestions about what should be done in a particular situation."

She advised me to leave early in order to be on time.

A more informal way to express the same idea is to use "tell."

She told me it was a good idea to leave early in order to be on time.

Note that we added "a good idea" to make it sound less like a command or order.

Related article: Say or Tell: What's the Difference?

His teacher advised him to spend more time studying.

It's common for friends or even strangers in some situations to offer advice. On the other hand, advising someone includes the nuance that one person has more knowledge or expertise than the person being advised.

His lawyer strongly advised him not to speak to reporters.

I was advised to read the contract carefully before signing it.

The doctor advised her patient to try and get more exercise.

In the examples above, the relationships aren't between two friends — they're between lawyers and their clients and between a doctor and a patient.

Other Forms and Usages

A windsock blowing in a field under cloudy skies

A noun form of "advise" is “advisory,” which you can often hear in news about weather.

The weather advisory said there will be rain and strong winds this afternoon.

"Advisory" can also be an adjective. It's often used to describe special groups of people who make decisions, such as advisory boards or advisory committees.

The advisory board needs time to review the details.

Finally, there's the noun “advisor,” which is a person who gives advice to others, sometimes professionally. (Note that it's also sometimes spelled “adviser.”) This is similar to a counselor.

I won’t make a decision until after I meet with my advisor.

Wrap-up

Since asking for and giving suggestions is common among both friends and professionals, you’ll have many chances to use these words in daily life. Remember the small differences, and you can use them both like a pro.

If you’d like to learn about the differences between other words that sound and look similar, take a look at our collection of articles dedicated to explaining what makes each unique.