solicit advice

USAGE SUMMARY

"solicit advice" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are asking someone for advice. For example, "I am trying to decide on a college major and I would like to solicit your advice."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

WE love to solicit advice.

The New York Times

I like to solicit advice from other editors: Vanity Fair's Graydon Carter said, "Tell stories".

The Guardian

Cocreated models are initiated by laypeople who solicit advice on experimental designs and execution from professional scientists.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Users upload a photo or use a Webcam to show an outfit and solicit advice from other users.

The New York Times

But he also said that Dr. Shah could solicit advice from "the most qualified outside experts" in his review.

The New York Times

And the site enables them to search for items they want and to solicit advice from one another.

The New York Times

Sanders said the president has not settled on specific charities and wants to solicit advice from the media.

The Washington Post

Mr. Bezos even gamified his philanthropic plans, taking to Twitter to solicit advice about what he should do.

The New York Times - Tech

The White House has said it would solicit advice from reporters before on where Trump should direct donations.

The Washington Post

But it broadly excludes advising clients on how to influence policy, as well as discussions over the interpretation of existing regulations and situations in which officials solicit advice.

The New York Times

Mr. Kantrowitz encouraged students to seek out past winners of scholarships that interested them, as a way to solicit advice from successful candidates on writing essays and interviewing.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "solicit advice", be clear about the specific area or topic for which you are seeking guidance. This helps the advisor provide more relevant and useful input.

Common error

Avoid using "elicit" when you mean "solicit". "Solicit" means to ask for something, whereas "elicit" means to draw out or bring forth. For example, you "solicit advice" but "elicit a response".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "solicit advice" functions as a verb phrase where "solicit" is the verb, and "advice" is the direct object. It indicates the action of actively seeking or requesting guidance. Ludwig AI confirms this is a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Academia

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "solicit advice" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase for requesting guidance. Ludwig AI confirms it's correct and usable in English. Its use spans various contexts, including news, academia, and science, reflecting its versatility. While the phrase is considered to be of neutral register, its implied formality makes it apt for professional communication. When using "solicit advice", ensure clarity in your request to receive the most pertinent information.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

request guidance

Similar to "solicit advice", but emphasizes direction or leadership.

consult with someone

Implies a more formal or professional discussion to obtain advice.

seek counsel

More formal and implies seeking guidance from a wise or experienced person.

invite recommendations

Specifies the type of advice sought.

ask for input

More general and can refer to seeking opinions or ideas on any topic.

call for suggestions

Openly asking for solutions or ideas.

get feedback

Focuses on obtaining reactions and evaluations on a specific idea or work.

canvass opinions

Implies gathering a range of views from a group.

pick someone's brain

Informal and suggests extracting specific knowledge from someone.

sound out

To informally seek opinions or feelings.

FAQs

How can I use "solicit advice" in a sentence?

You can use "solicit advice" when you're asking someone for their opinion or guidance. For example: "The president decided to solicit advice from leading economists before making a decision on the budget."

What's a more formal way to say "solicit advice"?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "seek counsel" or "request guidance". These options convey a similar meaning with a higher degree of formality.

Is there a difference between "solicit advice" and "ask for advice"?

"Solicit advice" is generally considered more formal than "ask for advice". "Solicit" implies a more deliberate or formal request.

What are some contexts where I might "solicit advice"?

You might solicit advice in various professional settings, such as consulting with experts on a project, seeking mentorship from experienced colleagues, or gathering feedback from stakeholders before making a major decision. It's also common to solicit advice in personal matters, such as asking friends or family for their opinions on important life choices.