Advice vs. Advise
“Advice” is an uncountable noun meaning a suggestion about what someone should do; “advise” is a verb meaning to give advice. The spelling difference corresponds to a part-of-speech difference, and standard English does not normally use “an advice” or “advices.”
Use “advice” when you need the noun and “advise” when you need the verb. Say “some advice” or “a piece of advice,” not normally “an advice” or “advices.”
Key details
Choose the right form
| Grammar job | Use | Pattern |
|---|---|---|
| Noun: guidance or recommendation | advice | some advice; a piece of advice |
| Verb: give guidance | advise | advise someone to do something |
| Countable unit | a piece of advice | Standard English does not normally use “an advice” for one suggestion. |
Quick tests
Noun-or-verb test
Could “suggestion/guidance” replace the word as a thing?
If yes: Use the noun “advice.”
If no: If the sentence needs the action of giving guidance, use “advise.”
Caveat: Pronunciation also differs in standard forms, but the safest editing test is the grammatical job in the sentence.
Examples
She gave me useful advice.
The sentence needs the noun.
She advised me to wait.
The sentence needs the verb.
She gave me an advice about the interview.
Better: She gave me a piece of advice about the interview.
Standard English normally treats “advice” as uncountable.
Further guidance
Core difference
Advice is the noun; advise is the verb. Cambridge also distinguishes their pronunciations, with the noun ending in an /s/ sound and the verb in a /z/ sound.
Countability
Advice is uncountable in standard English. Use “some advice,” “a lot of advice,” or “a piece of advice” when you need a countable unit.
Fast Test
If “suggestion” could replace the word, you probably need advice. If “recommend” or “give guidance” could replace it, you probably need advise.
Sentence Patterns
Typical noun pattern: “She gave me useful advice.” Typical verb pattern: “She advised me to wait.”
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.
- Advice or advise? — Cambridge Grammar (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press · Advice/advise distinction and countability
- Countability: advice — Cambridge Grammar (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press · Advice as an uncountable noun