While typing an email and staring at your inbox, I realized how please advise or please advice: understanding the right choice in American English can stop you, creating a tug-of-war in your mind when fingers paused over wording, subject line, middle, or end near the signature. You’re not alone if second-guessed in this context. At a basic level, the question of the correct phrase is simple. The good news is that knowing the difference is boom clarity. Misuse feels redundant, stuffy, or passive aggressive, leaving the reader puzzled, full of worry, and scratching your head, impacting professionalism and frequency in daily messages.
I’ve faced tough decisions, asking to whom I should seek out when language perplexes me. Having faced similar choices, I undoubtedly pay close attention when experts tell you how they weighed options. In English, phrases sound similar but carry different meanings and different roles in a sentence. Advise is a verb, the meaning is to give suggestions or recommendations—for example, you ask someone to advise you on a matter where you need guidance, then carefully implement what seems likely to benefit your situation. Advice is a noun that refers to suggestions, recommendations given, or helpful information, often considered advice after giving an answer or answers in a reply to a request or main question. Remembering this similarity in sound yet clear difference ensures you use correctly both words in sentences, helping you effectively communicate, polish your article, show gratitude when expressing gratitude, and know what to thank someone for when seeking guidance, making that tiny difference a real game-changer.
Why “Please Advise” vs “Please Advice” Confuses So Many Writers
The confusion doesn’t come from laziness or lack of education. It arises because advise and advice look similar, sound similar, and often appear in the same contexts. English learners, even fluent writers, often struggle to distinguish the two.
The common reasons for confusion include:
- Both words relate to giving guidance.
- Both appear frequently in business and formal communication.
- Spellcheck rarely flags the incorrect use of “advice” in place of “advise.”
- Pressure and habits lead to quick, unchecked writing, especially in emails.
Once you understand the grammatical rules behind each word, the distinction becomes straightforward.
Advise vs Advice: The Core Difference Explained Simply
The difference comes down to function, not meaning.
Advise Is a Verb
Advise is an action word. It means to give guidance, recommend, or suggest.
You do advise someone.
Examples:
- Please advise me on the next steps.
- The consultant advised the company to delay the launch.
- I would advise waiting until the data is confirmed.
Advice Is a Noun
Advice is a thing. It refers to the guidance or recommendation itself.
You receive advice.
Examples:
- Thank you for your advice.
- That was very helpful advice.
- She gave me sound advice.
One Simple Rule
If you can replace the word with “suggest,” use advise.
If you can replace it with “guidance,” use advice.
This trick alone clears up almost all confusion.
Quick Reference Table
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
| Advise | Verb | To give guidance | Please advise me on the project. |
| Advice | Noun | Guidance itself | Thank you for the advice. |
Pronunciation Matters More Than You Think
Pronunciation can help signal the correct usage even before you write.
How to Pronounce “Advise”
- Sounds like ad-vyz
- Ends with a Z sound
How to Pronounce “Advice”
- Sounds like ad-vise
- Ends with an S sound
Hearing the difference makes it easier to choose the right word. Practice saying:
- I advise you to check the report.
- That advice helped me solve the issue.
Also Read This: Wasn’t vs. Weren’t: Complete Grammar Guide + Examples
Is “Please Advise” Correct? When and How to Use It
Yes, please advise is correct. It is grammatically sound because please modifies the verb advise.
Appropriate Situations
- Formal business emails
- Customer support or service communications
- Internal corporate messages
- Legal and compliance documents
Situations Where It May Feel Abrupt
While correct, “please advise” can sometimes come across as:
- Overly formal
- Impersonal
- Direct to the point
Using alternatives can soften tone while remaining professional.
Polished Alternatives to “Please Advise”
| Situation | Better Option |
| Asking for input | Please let me know |
| Requesting confirmation | Could you confirm |
| Seeking guidance | I’d appreciate your guidance |
| Collaborative tone | What do you recommend? |
These alternatives often feel more conversational and approachable.
Why “Please Advice” Is Always Incorrect
“Please advice” is never correct.
Why It Fails
- Please modifies a verb, not a noun.
- Advice is a noun, so the sentence structure is wrong.
Incorrect examples:
- ❌ Please advice on this issue
- ❌ Kindly advice
- ❌ Please advice me
Corrected versions:
- ✅ Please advise on this issue
- ✅ Kindly advise
- ✅ Please advise me
Once you understand this, spotting the error becomes easy.
Professional Writing: Using Advise Correctly at Work
Grammar errors can undermine professionalism. Using the right word impacts:
- Credibility
- Clarity
- Authority
Email Examples
Formal:
Please advise whether approval has been granted.
Neutral:
Could you advise on the best approach?
Polite:
I’d appreciate your advice on this matter.
Legal and Corporate Contexts
- Counsel advised the client to proceed.
- Management was advised of the risks.
Accuracy here is critical. A single wrong word could change meaning or tone.
Advice as an Uncountable Noun: What That Really Means
Advice is uncountable. That’s a grammar fact, not a preference.
What “Uncountable” Means
You cannot pluralize advice:
- ❌ advices
- ❌ two advices
Correct Ways to Use Advice
- a piece of advice
- some advice
- helpful advice
- sound advice
Advice is treated as a whole, similar to information or feedback. Recognizing this avoids another common mistake.
Real-World Examples That Remove All Doubt
Business Email
Incorrect:
Please advice on the payment schedule.
Correct:
Please advise on the payment schedule.
Customer Support
Correct:
Thank you for your advice. We’ve implemented the changes.
Academic Writing
Correct:
The professor advised students to review the material before the exam.
Context often clarifies the correct word.
Common Mistakes Even Fluent Writers Make
Fluency doesn’t always prevent mistakes. Common slips include:
- Copying incorrect templates
- Assuming similar spelling means similar usage
- Overusing “please advise” in every email
- Treating advice as countable
Bad grammar often spreads through:
- Email signatures
- CRM scripts
- Auto-responses
Correcting these errors enhances credibility and clarity.
Easy Memory Tricks That Actually Work
The Verb Swap Test
Replace the word with suggest:
- Works → use advise
- Fails → use advice
The Article Test
- Works → advice
- Fails → advise
Example:
- a advice ❌
- some advice ✅
These simple exercises are highly effective.
Context Clues That Instantly Signal the Right Word
Words That Often Precede Advise
- please
- kindly
- would you
- can you
Words That Often Precede Advice
- some
- good
- helpful
- professional
Spotting these cues quickly guides correct usage.
Related Words That Cause Similar Confusion
Other verb-noun pairs share this pattern:
| Verb | Noun |
| Recommend | Recommendation |
| Suggest | Suggestion |
| Inform | Information |
| Advise | Advice |
Recognizing these pairs helps avoid repeated mistakes.
FAQs
Q1: When should I use “please advise” instead of “please advice”?
Use please advise when you are requesting someone to give suggestions or recommendations. It is a verb in a sentence, so it asks for action.
Q2: When is “please advice” correct?
Technically, please advice is incorrect. Advice is a noun, meaning helpful information, suggestions, or recommendations given. Always pair it with a verb like “give” if you want to use it properly.
Q3: Why do people get confused between “advise” and “advice”?
They sound similar but have different roles in English. Misusing them can make your email, message, or reply seem redundant, stuffy, or even passive aggressive.
Q4: How can I remember the difference easily?
Remember: advise = verb, advice = noun. Thinking of “advise you” versus “considered advice” in a sentence helps you use correctly in emails, messages, and professional communication.
Q5: Does using the wrong term affect professionalism?
Yes. Misusing these phrases in emails, subject lines, or near the signature can leave the reader puzzled, worried, or scratching your head, which impacts professionalism and clarity.
Conclusion
Using please advise or please advice correctly may seem small, but it makes a tiny difference in communication. Always check your wording, context, and sentence roles. Knowing that advise is a verb and advice is a noun ensures your emails, messages, and replies are polished, professional, and clear. By remembering the similarity in sound but difference in meaning, you can effectively communicate, show gratitude, and make every tough decision in writing a game-changer.
