Meaning & use
advice
Last updated
Meanings
noununcountable
Suggestions about what someone should do, given by a person who knows more or cares.
Grammar: Never plural: a piece of advice, not an advice.
Patterns
- advice on something
- advice about something
- take someone's advice
Can I ask your advice about buying a car?
She gave me some good advice.
Take my advice and see a doctor.
nouncountablebusiness
A formal notice about a business transaction, such as a payment or delivery.
Grammar: Business sense; often a payment advice.
Patterns
- a payment advice
The bank sent a payment advice by email.
We received a delivery advice this morning.
Common combinations
- ask for advice
- He asked for advice on moving abroad.
- give advice
- I'm not qualified to give advice.
- take advice
- You should take your teacher's advice.
- a piece of advice
- Here is one piece of advice: sleep.
Synonyms and how they differ
- guidance
- Longer-term help, often from a teacher or counselor.
- recommendation
- A specific suggestion, countable.
- counsel
- Formal advice from an expert.
- tip
- A small, practical piece of advice.
Word family
Commonly confused: advice or advise?
advice vs advise
Advice is the noun, pronounced with s as in ice; advise is the verb, with z.
Practice
My mother gave me a useful piece of ___ about renting a flat.
Choose one answer.
Advice is uncountable, so no plural. Advise is the verb.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “advice”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.