Misuse of the words advice and advise is rampant in blogs and blog comments – even on static web pages.
And that shouldn’t be so… at least not if the writer paid attention in grammar school.
If you know the difference between nouns and verbs, choosing between advise and advice is pretty simple.
Advice is a noun. It’s something you can say or something you can write down, as in instructions.
Advise is a verb. It’s something you do.
When your accountant, your attorney, or your broker advises you he or she is giving you advice.
As a verb, “advise” can have suffixes, such as d – advised, or – advisor, and ing – advising.
The suffix “or” or “er” added to advise changes the word to a noun – because you become and advisor or an adviser – one who advises and imparts advice. (Both are correct, so use the one you prefer.)
Advice never changes to anything else. It remains a noun. It doesn’t even have a plural form.
When your friend, your co-worker, your client, or your child comes to you for advice, you become their advisor. (Also spelled adviser – both are correct, so use the one you like.)
Some words, such as run, talk, and even chair are used both as nouns and as verbs, but advice is always a noun and advise is always a verb .
Thus, you can advise a client and you can give him advice. You can’t give him advise.
If it helps you remember, think of ice, which usually is a noun. Advice contains ice. “Ise” isn’t anything all by itself. So the form that contains a noun IS the noun.
