heed their advice

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "heed their advice" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to suggest that someone should pay attention to and follow the recommendations or guidance given by others. Example: "After considering the risks, I decided to heed their advice and take a different approach to the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

The White House should heed their advice.

The New York Times

Nor did they threaten to withhold their financial support if the Democrats failed to heed their advice.

The New York Times

Some publishers and editors may well be frustrated by the fact that their readers are failing to heed their advice.

The Guardian

Now, in the 21st century, these are the experts who find that the voters no longer want to heed their advice.

The Guardian

But if committee members consider that to be the correct course of action, I will certainly heed their advice and write to Lady Brittan".

The Guardian

And because congregants tend to trust their pastors or fellow congregants, they might be more willing to heed their advice than the words of doctors they see only periodically.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

We also explored some coping mechanisms they use to handle the conflict arising when patients do not heed their advices.

BMC Family Practice

Heeding their advice, Baxter has developed a routine.

The New York Times - Sports

The P.M. has heeded their advice, but not in the way they had hoped.

The New Yorker

The SRPBA's newsletter congratulates itself that the body had heeded their advice, which it characterises as "a victory".

Independent

The five veterans say they are hoping that, with nothing to lose, Jackson heeds their advice, even if it means further alienating Payton.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To enhance clarity, specify the type of advice being heeded, such as "heed their financial advice" or "heed their medical advice".

Common error

Avoid using "heed their advice" when you only mean that someone heard the advice. "Heed" implies not just hearing, but also paying attention to and following the advice. If someone only acknowledges the advice but doesn't act on it, "hear their advice" is more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "heed their advice" functions as a verb phrase where "heed" is the verb (meaning to pay attention to) and "their advice" is the object. As evidenced by Ludwig, it is commonly used to indicate that someone should follow guidance.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Science

12%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "heed their advice" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression that encourages following recommendations or guidance provided by others. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is found across various contexts, especially in news and media. While grammatically correct, remembering subtle distinctions like its emphasis on acting on advice is crucial. When writing, consider alternative phrases such as "take their advice" or "follow their advice" for similar meanings. Be aware of the potential pitfall of using this phrase when someone only hears the advice and doesn't necessarily act on it.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

take their advice

Focuses on the action of accepting and using the advice.

follow their advice

Emphasizes adherence and compliance with the given advice.

listen to their advice

Highlights the act of paying attention and considering the advice.

take their counsel

Uses "counsel", which is a more formal term for advice.

act on their advice

Stresses the action taken as a result of the advice.

consider their advice

Focuses on thinking about the advice, not necessarily following it.

respect their advice

Implies valuing the advice given, whether or not it's followed.

accept their recommendations

Replaces "advice" with "recommendations", suggesting a more formal setting.

adopt their suggestions

Uses "suggestions" which might imply a less forceful recommendation.

mind their words

A more idiomatic expression meaning to pay attention to what they say.

FAQs

What does "heed their advice" mean?

The phrase "heed their advice" means to pay attention to and follow the recommendations or guidance given by others. It implies taking the advice seriously and acting upon it.

How can I use "heed their advice" in a sentence?

You can use "heed their advice" in a sentence like this: "After considering the risks, I decided to "take their advice" and try a different approach to the project."

What are some alternatives to "heed their advice"?

You can use alternatives such as "follow their advice", "take their counsel", or "listen to their advice" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "heed their advice" and "hear their advice"?

"Heed their advice" implies that you not only hear the advice but also act upon it. "Hear their advice" simply means that you receive the advice, without necessarily acting on it.