Advice

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'advice' is correct and widely used in written English.
It is defined as a suggestion or recommendation about what someone should do in a particular situation. You can use 'advice' when giving guidance or offering tips on a topic or issue. For example: - "I asked for my friend's advice on what to wear to the interview." - "The doctor gave me some excellent advice to improve my overall health." - "My parents always give me good advice when it comes to managing my finances." - "Can you give me any advice on how to start my own business?" - "I followed my grandmother's advice and added some herbs to the recipe, and it turned out delicious."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Two were given a gel containing PRO 2000 (in different concentrations for each group), along with advice about how to use it, a regular supply of condoms and counselling on safe sexual practice and sexual health.

The Economist

The third group had the condoms, the advice and the counselling, but the gel was a placebo, containing no active ingredient.In this section Davy Jones's lock-up Girls on top Dashed hopes An early Christmas present?

The Economist

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The Guardian

She said: "As Mr Darling consistently explained, he paid for personal tax advice himself.

The Guardian

What's the best advice anyone ever gave you?

The Guardian

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The Guardian

With plenty of tailored advice from Anthony, this highly interactive course will teach you everything from the art of creative composition, to the technicalities of shooting on manual.

The Guardian

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The Guardian

O'Farrell's former chief of staff, Peter McConnell, also gave advice to Koelma on drafting letters on behalf of O'Farrell in support of AWH.

The Guardian

The DUP, UUP, Traditional Unionist Voice, the Ulster Volunteer Force-aligned Progressive Unionist party and the Ulster Defence Association-linked Ulster Political Research Group said it showed that "the commission members place no value on a relationship with unionism and have treated our advice with contempt".

The Guardian

Some may ask for rent in advance while others will require a lump sum of money to be returned providing the house is well kept Read it back-to-front and get your university's student advice service or student union to check it over.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When offering "advice", tailor it to the specific needs and context of the recipient for maximum effectiveness.

Common error

Remember that "advice" is a noun (the suggestion), while "advise" is a verb (to give a suggestion). Use "advice" when referring to the counsel itself, and "advise" when describing the act of giving counsel.

Linguistic Context

The noun "advice" functions as an object of verbs like "give", "receive", "ask for", or "follow". It denotes counsel or guidance offered regarding a particular situation. As indicated by Ludwig, it is widely used in written English to denote recommendations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

15%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "advice" is a noun denoting a suggestion or recommendation offered as a guide to action. As confirmed by Ludwig, the term is grammatically sound and commonly used across diverse written contexts. It primarily functions to provide guidance and is applicable in neutral registers, spanning from formal business settings to news media. Remembering that "advice" (noun) differs from "advise" (verb) is crucial for correct usage. When offering "advice", tailor the content and tone to your audience's needs to maximize its impact. A variety of semantically similar words, like ""guidance"", ""counsel"", and ""recommendation"", can offer subtle differences in meaning and formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

guidance

Focuses more on direction and support, suitable when continuous help is provided.

counsel

Implies a more formal or professional setting, often involving expert opinions.

recommendation

Highlights a specific course of action suggested as beneficial.

suggestion

Indicates a less forceful offering of an idea or plan.

tips

Refers to practical hints or small pieces of guidance, often informal.

input

Suggests contributing ideas or perspectives to a discussion or decision.

direction

Emphasizes the provision of a path or course to follow.

consultation

Involves a formal discussion to seek advice or expert opinion.

word to the wise

An idiomatic expression indicating a warning or cautionary advice.

piece of mind

An idiomatic expression indicating a suggestion to bring serenity.

FAQs

How to use "advice" in a sentence?

You can use "advice" in a sentence to refer to a suggestion or recommendation about what someone should do. For example, "I need some "guidance" on how to improve my writing skills".

What's the difference between "advice" and "advise"?

"Advice" is a noun, meaning a suggestion or recommendation. "Advise" is a verb, meaning to offer a suggestion or recommendation. For example, "I asked for her "recommendation"" (noun) versus "I "counsel" him to be cautious" (verb).

What can I say instead of "advice"?

You can use alternatives like ""guidance"", ""recommendation"", or "suggestion" depending on the context.

Is "advices" a correct plural form of "advice"?

No, "advices" is not generally used in modern English. "Advice" is typically treated as an uncountable noun, so it does not have a plural form. To refer to multiple instances of advice, you can say "pieces of advice" or "bits of "guidance"".