advise

USAGE SUMMARY

'advise' is a perfectly acceptable and usable word in written English.
You can use it as a verb to mean "to give advice, counsel, or recommendation". Example: I advised my friend to take some time off from work to relax.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"When he resigns he has got to be able to advise the Queen whom to appoint in his place".

The Guardian

How do shy students cope with the step-up to university, and how would they advise others to overcome their shyness?

The Guardian

The LGAQ encourage councils to use apps but advise buying them "off the shelf" or partnering with software developers as it can be more benefitial than going it alone.

The Guardian

En suite rooms are attractively decorated and comfortable, there is an excellent restaurant and Lucy and Angel can advise on walks and activities around Alájar.

The Guardian - Travel

GlaxoSmithKline has appointed investment banks to advise on a potential part-flotation of its HIV division as the drugmaker seeks to move on from a gruelling year in 2014.

The Guardian - Business

The Women's Business Council – set up to advise the government on how to get more women into executive positions – came up with some interesting conclusions in a recent report.

The Guardian

It says it will advise voters about tactical choices for Scottish constituencies in Westminster, one of which – Perth and North Perthshire) is held by the SNP's Peter Wishart.

The Guardian

Yvette Cooper will on Tuesday also promise to back government plans to cut corporation tax and vow that she will set up a prominent business advisory group that will advise her as party leader.

The Guardian

I'd advise you to have a variety of seafood with a bottle of vermouth.

The Guardian - Travel

Can you also advise of (sic) defence think the asylum seekers may have done it to themselves.

The Guardian - Opinion

Team managers are aware of the risks as well, and advise their charges through their radio headphones, heightening a collective sense that each man must move forward – or "look for position", as cycling slang has it.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "advise", consider the audience and context to ensure the level of formality is appropriate. For professional settings, more formal alternatives like "offer guidance" or "provide recommendations" might be suitable.

Common error

A common error is mixing up "advise" (the verb) with "advice" (the noun). Remember that you "advise" someone, and you give them "advice".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "advise" is as a transitive verb, requiring a direct object (the person being advised). It can also be intransitive, meaning to offer advice generally. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Formal & Business

26%

Science

13%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "advise" is a verb used to offer guidance or recommendations. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in English writing. It is very common, primarily found in news and media, formal business contexts, and science, with a neutral register making it suitable for various situations. Remember to differentiate it from the noun "advice". When seeking alternatives, consider "give counsel" or "offer guidance" to maintain a similar meaning with slight variations in formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

counsel

Similar to "advise", but often implies a more in-depth or professional level of guidance.

give counsel

Replaces "advise" with a more formal expression, emphasizing the act of providing thoughtful guidance.

recommend

Suggests a particular course of action or choice, acting as a form of advice.

offer guidance

Focuses on providing direction or support, similar to advising someone.

guide

Focuses on leading someone through a process or decision, similar to advising.

make a suggestion

Highlights the act of proposing an idea or course of action, which is a component of advising.

provide recommendations

Emphasizes the act of suggesting a course of action, but with a slightly more formal tone.

offer an opinion

Highlights the sharing of one's viewpoint, which can be part of the advising process.

give input

Focuses on providing information or ideas that contribute to a decision.

steer

Implies gently guiding or directing someone, akin to advising.

FAQs

How to use "advise" in a sentence?

You can use "advise" to mean giving a recommendation or suggestion to someone. For example, "The doctor advised me to exercise more."

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

"Advise" is a verb, meaning to give advice. "Advice" is a noun, meaning a recommendation or suggestion. For example, "I "advise" you to follow my "advice"".

What can I say instead of "advise"?

You can use alternatives like "recommend", "suggest", or "counsel" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "advise" in writing?

"Advise" is appropriate in both formal and informal writing when you want to express the act of giving counsel or recommendations. However, consider using more formal alternatives in professional settings.