Advice and advise look almost identical, but one names the guidance, and the other describes giving it.
- Advice is a noun: the recommendation or opinion itself.
- Advise is a verb: the act of giving that recommendation.
Advice: the noun
Advice is the recommendation, opinion or information someone gives you. It's uncountable: there's no plural, and no "an advice" — if you need to count it, use "a piece of advice."
She gave me some great advice about job interviews.
Can I ask your advice on something?
Here's a piece of advice that really helped me.
Advise: the verb
Advise means to give a recommendation or opinion. It's a regular verb: advise, advised, advising.
I'd advise you to double-check the contract before signing.
The doctor advised complete rest for a week.
We're here to advise you, not to decide for you.
The pronunciation gives it away
Forget the spelling for a second — just say the word out loud. Your mouth already knows the answer.
- Advice ends with an s sound, like ice.
- Advise ends with a z sound, like eyes.
If you can hear a "z" at the end, you need the verb, advise.
Easy way to tell them apart
Ask: is this a thing (noun), or an action (verb)?
- A thing you give or receive → advice
- An action you do → advise
Common mistakes
Giving the recommendation? Use advise.
❌ Can you advice me on this? / I advice you to leave early.
✅ Can you advise me on this? / I advise you to leave early.
Advice is not countable.
❌ She gave me an advice. / She gave me some advices.
✅ She gave me some advice. / She gave me a piece of advice.
Good to know
Just starting out? You can safely skip this part.
English keeps a similar noun/verb "c" vs "s" split in a few other pairs. In British English, practice is the noun and practise is the verb — the same split as advice/advise. American English simplifies this: practice usually covers both the noun and the verb.
In a conversation
Tom: My landlord raised the rent again. What should I do?
Mia: Honestly, I'd advise getting it in writing first.
Tom: That's actually solid advice.
Mia: I do occasionally have some.
Easy way to remember it
If your ears ever fail you, your eyes can take over: advice has a c, like counsel, a noun. Advise has an s, like suggest, a verb.