tip

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "tip" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a piece of advice or a suggestion, often in informal contexts. Example: "Here's a tip: always double-check your work before submitting it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Lifestyle

Travel

Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

When someone asks for a training tip, what do you tell them?

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The most the prosecution ever asserted was that Kercher's DNA was on the tip of the blade.

The Guardian - Opinion

The service charge would be split among servers and cooks, which would give servers roughly the same income if they also get a 5% tip, but would mainly help to boost the cooks' pay to closer to $20, he said.

The Guardian - Business

Often, half the people attending have been in leftwing politics for years, and the other half are in community action groups and no longer identify as left; it can be difficult, sitting between them, to see how the meeting could ever tip into something bigger.

The Guardian

Insider tip "The best place to hear live music is the Queen Charlotte Pub [57 Addington Street]," says Jo Wallace, a local DJ and music consultant.

The Guardian - Travel

Jura has just one main road, which terminates some way short of the island's northern tip.

The Guardian - Travel

He had been given the tip by his cousin, a player in the Turkish ladies national volleyball team.

The Guardian - Sport

If they're allowed to turn toxic, painful stories from people's lives have the potential to become dangerous, by threatening to tip Uganda's decades-long cycle of violence into a new revolution.

The Guardian

Whisk together the sugar and lemon juice and put into a piping bag with a small round tip if you have one.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

So I prefer this place" – his arm swept in the filthy vista of the rubbish tip – "to my farm".

The Guardian

Darren Cronian, the man behind ultra-successful Travel Rants blog and organiser of Travel BlogCamp (next one in Leeds this summer), says: "My tip would be to write about a topic that you are passionate about.

The Guardian - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "tip" in contexts where you're offering a brief, practical piece of advice or insight.

Common error

In academic or formal business writing, avoid overusing the word "tip". Opt for more formal alternatives like "recommendation" or "guideline" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The word "tip" functions as both a noun and a verb. As a noun, it refers to a piece of advice, a gratuity, or the pointed end of something. As a verb, it means to give advice, to give a gratuity, or to overturn something. Ludwig provides numerous examples illustrating these various uses.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Lifestyle

20%

Travel

15%

Less common in

Sport

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Science

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "tip" is a versatile term with multiple meanings, ranging from advice and gratuities to the pointed end of an object. As shown by Ludwig, its grammatical correctness and high frequency make it suitable for various contexts, although formal writing may benefit from more precise alternatives like "recommendation" or "gratuity". Its usage spans from news and media to lifestyle and travel, making it a commonly understood term in diverse fields. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

piece of advice

Replaces "tip" when referring to guidance or recommendations.

helpful suggestion

Similar to "tip", but emphasizes the helpful nature of the advice.

useful hint

Indicates a subtle piece of advice or clue.

gratuity

A formal alternative to "tip" when referring to money given for service.

pourboire

A French term for "tip", used in similar contexts.

peak

Used when referring to the pointed end of something.

summit

Similar to "tip" when describing the highest point.

extremity

Refers to the farthest point or end, akin to the directional sense of "tip".

secret information

Replaces "tip" when referring to private or insider knowledge.

insider information

Highlights that the information is not publicly available

FAQs

How to use "tip" in a sentence?

You can use "tip" to refer to a piece of advice, as in, "Here's a "useful tip": always back up your data". It can also refer to gratuity, such as, "Did you leave a "gratuity" for the waiter?"

What can I say instead of "tip" when referring to advice?

You can use alternatives like "piece of advice", "suggestion", or "recommendation" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "tip" or "hint"?

Both "tip" and "hint" can refer to advice, but a ""useful tip"" is typically more direct and practical, while a "subtle hint" is more indirect or subtle. The choice depends on the nuance you want to convey.

What's the difference between "tip" and "gratuity"?

"Gratuity" is a more formal term for a "tip", specifically referring to money given to someone for their service. "Tip" can also refer to advice or the pointed end of something.