Can you say "advices"? Here's why you shouldn't

If you've ever written "Thanks for all your advices," you're in good company. It's one of the most common mistakes German speakers make in English, and it makes total sense. In German, you can give someone einen Ratschlag or a whole list of Ratschläge. English doesn't let you do that with "advice."

Why "advice" has no plural

"Advice" is an uncountable noun. It has no plural, and you can't put "a" or "an" in front of it. One suggestion or fifty, it's still just "advice."

CORRECT:

• I need some advice about my presentation.
• Her advice helped me choose the right career path.
• Thanks for the advice. It really helped.

INCORRECT:

• She gave me many advices.
• Can I give you an advice?

It also takes a singular verb, so it's "Your advice was really helpful," not "Your advice were."

How to count advice

If you want to count it, add "piece": a piece of advice, two pieces of advice. That's correct, but "pieces of advice" can sound a little formal in everyday conversation. Most people just say "some advice" or "a bit of advice," or switch to a word that is countable, like "tip" or "suggestion."

• Can I give you a piece of advice? Don't answer that email tonight.
• My sister gave me a bit of advice before my first job interview.
• He had a few good tips on managing my time.

Other words that work the same way

"Advice" isn't the only word that catches people out like this. A few other nouns are plural in German but uncountable in English:

• information, not "informations"
• furniture, not "furnitures"
• homework, not "homeworks"
• news, which looks plural but takes a singular verb: "The news is good."

So the next time someone helps you out, it's "Thanks for the advice," whether they gave you one tip or twenty.

Want more quick fixes for mistakes like this one? You'll find them in our Daily Dose of Denglisch Docs.