advise

/ədˈvaɪz/
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Guidance about what should be done, formal notice of important information, and a rarer formal use for consulting before a decision.

Examples

  • The doctor advised her to rest for a few days.
  • The trustees advised with counsel before signing the agreement.
  • The solicitor advised that the costs could rise.
  • I advise taking the earlier train.
  • Please advise us of any change in your address.

Similar words

warn
guide
confer with
notify
brief
confer
tell
discuss
consult
alert

Meanings

Give guidance

verb
guidance
neutral
To tell someone what seems best or safest to do, often from experience, knowledge, or authority.

Usage

Use advise when the guidance is stronger or more authoritative than a casual suggestion, especially with to, against, on, or a that clause.

Examples

  • I advise taking the earlier train.
  • The doctor advised her to rest for a few days.
  • Officials advise residents against nonessential travel.
  • The committee advised that the plan be revised.
  • She advises clients on tax law.

Common mistakes

The noun advice is often written as the verb advise, and the verb ending is misspelled after final e.
IncorrectCorrect
She gave me advise about the interview. She gave me advice about the interview.
The doctor adviced him to rest. The doctor advised him to rest.
I advise you against to invest all your savings. I advise you against investing all your savings.

Similar words

Give official notice

verb
administration
formal
To tell someone information in a formal or official way, especially about a right, change, decision, or requirement.

Usage

Use advise for official notice in formal writing, most often in patterns like advise someone of something, advise someone that, or keep someone advised.

Examples

  • The airline advised passengers of the delay.
  • Applicants will be advised of the result by email.
  • Please advise us of any change in your address.
  • The solicitor advised that the costs could rise.
  • Keep me advised of any new developments.

Common mistakes

The object or preposition is often left out after formal advise.
IncorrectCorrect
The bank advised me the new fee. The bank advised me of the new fee.
Please advise to us your new address. Please advise us of your new address.
They advised about the outcome yesterday. They advised us of the outcome yesterday.

Similar words

Consult before deciding

verb
decision-making
formal
To talk with someone in order to consider a problem or decide what should be done, now mostly in formal or legal contexts.

Usage

Use advise with only when the meaning is consultation before a decision, and prefer consult in ordinary modern prose.

Examples

  • The trustees advised with counsel before signing the agreement.
  • He advised with his partners before accepting the offer.
  • The board advised with outside experts on the risk.
  • She advised with her lawyer before answering.
  • The committee advised with local leaders before acting.

Common mistakes

The rare advise with pattern is often used where consult or consider is clearer.
IncorrectCorrect
She advised with the report before voting. She consulted the report before voting.
He advised with his options all evening. He considered his options all evening.
The board advised the lawyer before signing. The board advised with the lawyer before signing.

Similar words

Usage

Use advise as a verb, not a noun, and choose the pattern that fits the sense: advise someone to, advise against, advise someone of, or the rarer advise with.

Common mistakes

Advise is often used where the noun advice is needed, and formal patterns such as advise someone of something are often shortened incorrectly.

Etymology

From Middle English avisen, from Old French aviser, meaning to deliberate or consider. The word is tied to avis, meaning opinion, and ultimately to a Latin idea of something seeming or being seen.

FAQ

What does advise mean?

Advise means to give guidance about what should be done, to formally inform someone, or more rarely to consult before deciding.

What is the difference between advise and advice?

Advise is the verb, as in advise a client. Advice is the noun, as in give advice.

Is advise a noun?

No. The noun is advice. Use advise only as a verb.

What preposition follows advise?

Common patterns are advise someone to do something, advise against something, advise someone on a subject, and advise someone of a fact.

Can advise mean inform?

Yes. In formal writing, advise someone of something means to inform or notify them.

What does advise with mean?

Advise with means to consult with someone before deciding, but it is formal and uncommon in everyday English.

What are common synonyms of advise?

Common synonyms include counsel, recommend, suggest, guide, inform, and notify, depending on the sense.

What is the past tense of advise?

The past tense and past participle are advised.

How is advise pronounced?

Advise is pronounced /ədˈvaɪz/, with a final z sound.

Is the old meaning consider still current?

The old sense meaning consider or look at is obsolete. Modern use keeps that history mainly in the rarer advise with pattern.

Comments & contributions

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Snowy Kingfisher
5 days ago
i see Kindly advice in work emails from India/Gulf offices a lot. People understand it, sure, but standard written English wants Kindly advise, and for the noun its still some advice, not an advice or advices
1
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Contribution
Civil Sandpiper
Jul 11
small pattern thing: you advise a person, but recommend a thing to a person. advise me about good books is possible, recommend some books to me is normal, advise me good books sounds wrong.
1
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Brisk Wren
Jul 9
Where this word trips people up is when they only need a fact. Please advise on the venue can mean tell me where it is, but it can also sound like you want advice about which venue to choose. If the answer is just a room name, Please let me know the venue is much less annoying.
2
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Neat Wren
Jun 29
Please advise is email language. In speech it sounds weird to me, like reading a support ticket out loud
4
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Violet Bison
Jul 3
same, my manager writes it ten times a week but nobody says it in meetings
1
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