Advice vs Advise
What's the difference?
Same idea, but one is a thing and the other is an action. The spelling change even matches how they sound.
Quick answer
Advice is the noun (the suggestion itself); advise is the verb (the act of giving it). Advise rhymes with "wise" and has a 'z' sound.
Compared side by side
(noun) a suggestion about what someone should do.
- “Can I give you some advice?”
- “That's really good advice.”
- “She asked for my advice.”
(verb) to suggest what someone should do.
- “I advise you to wait.”
- “The doctor advised him to rest.”
- “What would you advise?”
How to remember it
adviCe = noun (C, like a thing such as iCe). adviSe = verb (S sounds like Z — an action). The sound tells you the spelling.
Frequently asked
Do they sound different?
Yes. Advice ends in an 's' sound (rhymes with "ice"); advise ends in a 'z' sound (rhymes with "wise"). The spelling follows the sound: c for the noun, s for the verb.
Is it the same for practice/practise and licence/license?
In British English, yes — c for the noun, s for the verb. American English usually spells both the same (practice, license), so this trick is most useful for advice/advise.