Writing & StyleStyle guide

Please Advise — Meaning and Alternatives

“Please advise” is grammatically valid: “advise” is the verb meaning to give guidance or information. In email, however, the phrase can be vague because it may not specify whether you need a decision, recommendation, clarification, approval, or status update.

Quick answer

You can use “please advise,” but a more specific request is often clearer: ask for feedback, a decision, confirmation, guidance, or the next step you actually need.

Key details

Core Issuegrammatically correct but often underspecified
Phrase Rolerequest for guidance or information
Registerformal/professional

Important caveats

Tone Boundary

The phrase is not automatically rude. Tone depends on context, relationship, and the surrounding wording.

Further guidance

Clarity

When possible, replace the generic request with the exact response needed, such as “Could you confirm the next step?” or “I’d appreciate your feedback on option A.”

Grammar

Use “advise,” the verb, after “please.” “Advice” is a noun, so “please advice” is not the standard construction.

Sources and evidence

Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.

  1. Please Advise Synonyms — 11 Polite Alternatives (opens in a new tab)LanguageTool · Meaning, tone and clearer alternatives for please advise
  2. Advise vs Advice — Difference & Examples (opens in a new tab)LanguageTool · Grammatical distinction between advise as verb and advice as noun

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