What's the difference between "advice" and "advise"?

Imagine you're drafting an important email to guide a colleague on a project. Should you say, "Let me give you some advice" or "Let me advise you"? Although the words "advice" and "advise" are very close in meaning, they're used slightly differently. Let's break it down.

Advice

"Advice" is a noun. It's the helpful suggestions or guidance you give to someone to help them make a decision or solve a problem.

Examples:

"Her advice helped me feel prepared for the big meeting."

"The doctor's advice was to rest and stay hydrated."

"Whenever I'm stuck, I turn to my mentor for advice."

It's important to remember that advice is uncountable. You can't say "an advice" or "some advices." Instead, you'd say "a piece of advice" or simply "advice."

"He gave me a great piece of advice about job interviews."

"Some advice is easier to follow than others."

Advise

"Advise" is a verb. It's the act of giving advice, often suggesting what someone should do or how they should handle a situation.

Examples:

"I would advise you to save at least 10% of your monthly income."

"The lawyer advised her client to remain silent during questioning."

"My manager advised us to complete the report before the weekend."

You'll often find "advise" followed by an object or action, like "someone" or "to do something."

"She advised me to start preparing early."

"The consultant advised caution when entering new markets."

How to tell them apart?

Simple — through the pronunciation. "Advice" ends with a soft 's' sound (ad-VAIS) whereas "advise" ends with a 'z' sound (ad-VAIZ). It's subtle, but once you notice it, it's easy to remember.

Now that you know the difference, keep an ear out for how "advice" and "advise" are used in context. The more you hear and practice them, the easier it will be to use them naturally.

For more tips like this, check out our Daily Dose of Denglisch Docs for clear, bite-sized English lessons.