Commonly Confused Words: Advice vs. Advise

Advice and advise are two words that are often confused, and it is easy to see why. They look nearly identical and are closely related in meaning. However, understanding the difference between the two is simpler than it may seem. First, advice is a noun, while advise is a verb.

When you advise someone, you are performing an action. To advise is to offer guidance or a recommendation. The advice, on the other hand, is the guidance or recommendation itself. Think of it this way: you advise someone by giving them advice. The two words work hand in hand. However, they cannot be used interchangeably.

Travel is a good context for illustrating the difference between these two commonly confused words. Imagine you are planning a trip abroad and ask a seasoned traveler for their input. You might say, "Could you advise me on the best time of year to visit Japan?" In this sentence, advise is used as a verb. You are asking the person to perform the action of guiding you. The seasoned traveler might then respond, "My advice is to visit in the spring, when the cherry blossoms are in bloom." Here, advice is a noun, or the recommendation itself.

Another travel-related example involves a tour guide. A knowledgeable guide will advise tourists to book popular attractions well in advance. The advice provided by the guide can save travelers from disappointment when tickets are sold out upon arrival. Notice that in the first sentence, advise describes what the guide does. In the second, advice refers to the tip or recommendation being shared.

A helpful trick for keeping these two words straight is to pay attention to their endings. Advise ends in the same letters as other common verbs such as surprise and revise. This can remind you that advise is also a verb, or something you do.

Advice, on the other hand, ends like other nouns such as ice and dice. This can help you remember that advice is a thing, or something you give or receive.

In sum, if you are looking to offer guidance, you advise. If you are sharing the guidance itself, that is your advice. The next time you're planning a journey and seeking input from a well-traveled friend, remember: you're asking them to advise you, and what they share with you is their advice.

Interested in learning about more commonly confused words? See our article on the differences between break and brake.

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