Understanding the Difference Between “Advice” and “Advise”

Introduction

English is full of confusing word pairs, and one common source of confusion is the difference between "advice" and "advise". They sound similar and are related in meaning, but they serve different grammatical roles. Choosing the wrong one can make your sentences grammatically incorrect or awkward. In this article, you’ll learn the difference between these two words, how to use them correctly, and get to test your understanding with a mini-quiz and learning aids.

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Advice vs. Advise: What’s the Difference?

Word	Part of Speech	Meaning	Example
Advice	Noun	A suggestion or recommendation	She gave me good advice.
Advise	Verb	To recommend something or offer guidance	I advise you to save your money.

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✅ Key Grammar Rule

• Use "advice" when you are talking about a thing (a tip, suggestion, guidance).

• Use "advise" when you are doing the action of giving that suggestion.

Think of "advice" as the information, and "advise" as the action of giving that information.

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Examples in Context

Advice (noun)

• My mother gave me some valuable advice.

• His advice helped me make the right decision.

• That’s the best advice I’ve ever received.

Advise (verb)

• The doctor advised him to rest for a few days.

• I strongly advise against quitting your job too soon.

• Can you advise me on how to improve my writing?

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Pronunciation Tip

• Advice is pronounced /ədˈvaɪs/ — ends in a soft 's' sound (like "ice").

• Advise is pronounced /ədˈvaɪz/ — ends in a 'z' sound (like "rise").

🎧 Try saying them out loud:

• “That was great advice.”

• “I advise you to listen to her.”

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🧠 Memory Trick

• "Advice" ends in -ice, like a slice of information (thing).

• "Advise" ends in -ise, like rise to action (do something).

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📝 Mini Quiz: Advice or Advise?

Choose the correct word for each blank.

1. My teacher gave me some helpful __________ about studying.

2. Can you __________ me on how to write a CV?

3. I always follow my manager’s __________.

4. I wouldn’t __________ him to travel alone.

5. She asked the lawyer to __________ her on the case.

6. That was useful __________ you gave me.

7. Please __________ me what to do next.

8. His father’s __________ was simple: “Be honest.”

<details> <summary>✅ Click to Reveal Answers</summary>

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2. advise

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5. advise

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7. advise

8. advice

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🃏 Flashcard Summary: Advice vs. Advise

Word	Advice	Advise
Part of Speech	Noun	Verb
Meaning	A suggestion or tip	To recommend or suggest something
Example	She gave me good advice.	I advise you to prepare early.
Pronunciation	/ədˈvaɪs/ (ends in "s" sound)	/ədˈvaɪz/ (ends in "z" sound)
Memory Tip	"slice" of advice = thing	"rise" to action = verb

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Conclusion

The difference between “advice” and “advise” may seem small, but it matters. Use “advice” when talking about a suggestion (a noun), and use “advise” when you are giving that suggestion (a verb). With practice and the right memory tricks, you can master this pair and sound more natural and accurate in your English.