Do you Give Advice or Advise? When to Use Advice vs. Advise

Which one is correct: advice or advise?

Do you give advice or advise? Though these words are just a letter off, they are not the same and belong to different parts of speech: advice is a verb and advice is a noun.

When to use “advise” or “advice”

• Advice means “guidance or recommendations offered with regard to prudent future action: She visited the island on her doctor’s advice”.

• Advise means to “offer suggestions about the best course of action to someone: I advised him to go home“.

Both advice and advise derive from the same Latin word, visum, meaning “to see” or “that which is seen.” The difference is that advice is a verb that describes the act of giving advice, whereas advice is a noun that refers to the actual guidance or recommendation that’s been given.

Since advise is a verb, it naturally has verb tenses, i.e., advising, advised, advises, and so on. Advice is a mass noun or noncount noun, so it has one form, i.e., advice. They’re also pronounced differently; advise sounds more like ad-vyze, with a z, whereas advice reads like it’s spelled, ad-vice.

How to use advise and advice

If you’re describing the act of giving someone guidance or telling someone which course of action to take, you are advising them on what to do. Whatever you told them to do is the advice that’s been given. See the difference:

• I advise you to study for your test tomorrow, but it is your decision whether to follow the advice.

Sentences with advise

1. I would advise you to study for the exam well in advance to ensure a good grade.

2. Could you please advise me on the route to avoid traffic?

3. The financial consultant will advise us on how to invest our savings wisely.

4. She sought legal counsel to advise her on the best course of action in her case.

5. As a mentor, I am here to advise you on career choices and professional development.

Sentences with advice

2. I followed his advice and chose the vegetarian option at the restaurant.

3. My grandmother’s advice to always be kind has stuck with me throughout my life.

4. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, I’d recommend seeking professional advice from a therapist.

5. The travel blog offered great advice on how to pack efficiently for a backpacking trip.

Synonyms for advise

• give counsel
• make recommendations
• offer suggestions
• offer opinions
• guide
• tips

Synonyms of advice

• guidance
• counsel
• direction
• help
• recommendation
• suggestion
• information
• instruction
• adjuration

Origin of advice

Late 13c., auys “opinion,” from Old French avis “opinion, view, judgment, idea” (13c.), from phrase ço m’est à vis “it seems to me,” or from Vulgar Latin *mi est visum “in my view”.

Origin of advise

Late 13c., avisen “to view, consider” (a sense now obsolete); late 14c., “to give counsel to,” from Old French aviser “deliberate, reflect, consider” (13c.), from avis “opinion,” from phrase ço m’est à vis “it seems to me,” ultimately from Latin visum, neuter past participle of videre “to see”.

Other commonly confused words

• Is it Elude or Allude?
• When To Use Infer vs. Imply
• What’s the Difference Between Invoke and Evoke?
• Is it Allot, A lot or Alot?
• Which is it: Allusion or Illusion?
• Insure, Ensure or Assure?
• Averse or Adverse?
• “Accept” vs. “Except”: What’s the Difference?

Sources  

1. Harper, Douglas. “Etymology of advise.” Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/word/advise. Accessed 17 August 2023.
2. Harper, Douglas. “Etymology of advice.” Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/word/advice. Accessed 17 August 2023.

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