We all use different vocabulary in English Grammar that sounds the same, but have minor spelling differences. One of these words is “Advice” and “Advise”, which are the most commonly confused words in English. And making mistakes in such words can cost you in the IELTS writing and speaking sections.
“Advice” and “Advise” sound almost the same, but have completely different grammatical jobs. One is a thing while the other is an action. Most of the students make mistakes between these words, but these mistakes can be easily fixed once you understand the rules. In this guide, we will break down the difference between advice vs advise in the simplest way, along with its meaning, pronunciation, examples, and how to use them correctly in the exam.
This Blog Includes:
- Meaning of Advice (Noun)
- Meaning of Advise (Verb)
- Advice vs Advise Pronunciation Difference
- Advice vs Advise in IELTS Writing
- Common Mistakes Students Make While Using Advice and Advise
- Memory Trick to Remember the Difference between Advice and Advise
- Practice Sentences for Advice vs Advise (For IELTS Learners)
- FAQs
Meaning of Advice (Noun)
Advice is a noun, which means it is a thing, not an action. In simple words, advice means a suggestion or guidance given to help someone make a decision or solve a problem.
We use advice when we talk about recommendations, opinions, or helpful tips from someone. Because it is a noun, it cannot show action in a sentence.
Incorrect: I will advice you.
Correct: I will give you advice.
Examples:
- My teacher gave me useful advice for IELTS.
- This is good advice for exam preparation.
Meaning of Advise (Verb)
Advise is a verb, which means it shows an action. It is used when someone gives guidance, suggestions, or recommendations to another person. Whenever you describe the act of helping someone with a suggestion, you use advise.
Incorrect: She gave me an advise.
Correct: She advised me.
Examples:
- I advise students to practice daily.
- The mentor advised me to improve my vocabulary.
Also Read: How to Score 150+ in Duolingo English Test in 2 Week?
Advice vs Advise Pronunciation Difference
Pronunciation plays a big role in IELTS Speaking, and advice vs advise is a classic example where one sound changes the whole meaning.
Advice → ends with /s/ sound
The word advice finishes with a soft /s/ sound, just like in ice.
Example: This is my advice.
Advise → ends with /z/ sound
The word advise ends with a /z/ sound, like in rise.
Example: I advise you to practice daily.
Tip to Remember During the Speaking Test
Think: Advice = Ice (noun), Advise = Rise (verb).
If you are talking about a suggestion, use the /s/ sound. If you are talking about the action of giving a suggestion, use the /z/ sound.
Advice vs Advise in IELTS Writing
Using the words “Advice vs Advise” correctly shows your strong grammar control in the IELTS exam. It improves your grammatical range and accuracy score for the students.
Formal Sentence Usage
In academic writing, advice is used as a noun and often follows words like give, offer, and provide. Advise is used as a verb to describe giving recommendations.
Academic Task 2 Examples
- Governments should provide advice to young people about career planning.
- Experts advise students to develop problem-solving skills.
Common Grammatical Errors Students Make:
Some of the common grammatical mistakes that students make while using the Advice vs Advise in IELTS Writing are given to you below. Avoiding these small mistakes can help you score higher in IELTS Writing.
Incorrect: He gave me an advise.
Correct: He gave me advice.
Incorrect: She adviced me to study hard.
Correct: She advised me to study hard.
Also Read: Duolingo English Test: Is 100 a Good Score in Duolingo for Universities?
Common Mistakes Students Make While Using Advice and Advise
Because advice and advise look so similar, students often mix up their form and usage. These mistakes are very common in IELTS Writing and everyday English. Here are some of the examples of common mistakes that students should avoid while using Advice vs Advise.
Incorrect: I gave him an advise
Correct: I gave him advice
Advice is a noun and uncountable. We do not use “an” before it.
Incorrect: She adviced me
Correct: She advised me
The verb form is advise, and its past tense is advised, not adviced.
Some other frequent errors include:
Incorrect: He gave me many advices
Correct: He gave me a lot of advice
Incorrect: I will advice you
Correct: I will advise you
Memory Trick to Remember the Difference between Advice and Advise
It is very important to remember the difference between Advice and Advise to avoid any errors in your IELTS exam. There are some easy tricks that can help you remember the difference between them in an easy and simple way:
- Advice = Noun = Ice (thing)
Both advice and ice end in -ice and are things you can receive.
- Advise = Verb = Rise (action)
Both advise and rise end in -ise and show action.
- So, if it’s a suggestion (thing) → advice
If it’s the act of suggesting (action) → advise
Practice Sentences for Advice vs Advise (For IELTS Learners)
Practising advice vs advise through exercises helps you avoid mistakes in IELTS Writing and Speaking. Try these activities to test your understanding.
Fill-in-the-Blank Exercises
Choose the correct word: advice or advise
- My teacher gave me useful ______ for the IELTS test.
- I ______ you to manage your time properly during the exam.
- She asked for ______ about improving her vocabulary.
- Doctors often ______ people to exercise regularly.
- This is the best ______ I can give you.
Answers:
- advice
- advise
- advice
- advise
- advice
Correction Exercises
Find and correct the mistake in each sentence.
- He gave me an advise before the interview.
- She adviced me to practice speaking daily.
- The teacher gave many advices to the students.
- I will advice you to stay calm.
- This advise is very helpful.
Correct Answers:
- He gave me advice before the interview.
- She advised me to practice speaking daily.
- The teacher gave a lot of advice to the students.
- I will advise you to stay calm.
- This advice is very helpful.
FAQs
Use advice when talking about a suggestion (noun). Use advise when describing the action of giving a suggestion (verb). One is a thing; the other is an action.
A doctor advises patients. The correct verb is advise because the doctor is giving guidance. Advice would be the suggestion itself, not the action.
Use advise as a verb showing action. Example: I advise you to start preparing early for IELTS. It is followed by a person and often “to + verb.”
You should say “please advise” because you are asking someone to give guidance. Advice cannot be used here since it is a noun, not an action.
It is “my parents’ advice.” Here, you are referring to the suggestions they gave, so the noun advice is correct, not the verb advise.
Related Reads:
Want to avoid common grammar mistakes like advice vs advise in your exam? Explore more easy grammar guides in our IELTS Preparation Series and boost your band score with confidence. You can also follow Leverage Edu for more exciting and informative blogs.

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