Practice vs. Practise
In standard UK usage, “practice” is the noun and “practise” is the verb; in US English, “practice” is generally used for both noun and verb. This distinction combines region and grammatical role, so check both the variety of English and whether the word is functioning as a noun or verb.
In standard UK usage, “practice” is the noun and “practise” is the verb; in US English, “practice” is generally used for both noun and verb.
Key details
Choose the right form
| Meaning / situation | Form / construction | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| noun in standard UK English | practice | Use “practice.” |
| verb in standard UK English | practise | Use “practise.” |
| noun or verb in US English | practice | US English generally uses “practice” for both roles. |
Quick tests
Meaning / construction test
Are you writing standard UK English and using the word as a verb?
If yes: Use “practise.”
If no: Use “practice” for the noun in UK English; in US English, “practice” is generally used for both noun and verb.
Caveat: This distinction depends on both region and grammatical role. A standard US “practice” verb should not be marked wrong merely because UK English distinguishes “practise.”
Examples
Regular practice improves consistency.
In standard UK usage, the noun is spelled “practice.”
They practise every afternoon.
In standard UK usage, the verb is spelled “practise.”
They practice every afternoon.
US English generally uses “practice” as the verb as well as the noun.
Further guidance
Core difference
In standard UK usage, “practice” is the noun and “practise” is the verb; in US English, “practice” is generally used for both noun and verb.
Fast Test
Choose the form that matches the intended meaning, grammatical role, and documented regional convention; do not treat a standard regional variant as an error.
Variant Boundary
This distinction combines region and grammatical role, so check both the variety of English and whether the word is functioning as a noun or verb.
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.
- PRACTICE — Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press · Noun and US verb usage for “practice”
- PRACTISE — Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press · UK verb spelling; US “practice”