'Advice' or 'Advices'? Which One Is Correct? | Mastering Grammar

(Last Updated: 26 September 2024)

Advice or Advices: Which One Is Correct?

Advice is an uncountable noun and should not be used in the plural form:

✅ I seek my parents' advice every time I face a major decision in life.
❌ I seek my parents' advices every time I face a major decision in life.

✅ Could you give me some advice on how to maintain a healthy work-life balance?
❌ Could you give me some advices on how to maintain a healthy work-life balance?

✅ When I was preparing for my college exams, my friend shared a lot of useful advice on effective study techniques.
❌ When I was preparing for my college exams, my friend shared a lot of useful advices on effective study techniques.

Like other uncountable nouns, advice takes a singular verb:

✅ Good advice is often based on personal experiences and lessons learnt.
❌ Good advice are often based on personal experiences and lessons learnt.

✅ The doctor's advice has greatly improved my health and overall well-being.
❌ The doctor's advice have greatly improved my health and overall well-being.

✅ Most of the advice shared in the workshop was practical and applicable to everyday life.
❌ Most of the advice shared in the workshop were practical and applicable to everyday life.

If you need to quantify advice, you can say piece(s) of advice or some advice. Do not say an advice:

✅ After struggling with time management, I reached out to a productivity expert and was given a piece of advice that revolutionised my workflow.
❌ After struggling with time management, I reached out to a productivity expert and was given an advice that revolutionised my workflow.

✅ Let me give you three pieces of advice.
❌ Let me give you three advices.

✅ One important piece of advice for aspiring writers is to read extensively and write consistently.
❌ One important advice for aspiring writers is to read extensively and write consistently.

✅ She asked her friends for some advice on choosing the right college.
❌ She asked her friends for an advice on choosing the right college.

The entry for the noun advice in the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

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Examples from the Media

In the Minneapolis domestic violence experiment, police were given a special pad of report forms which listed three kinds of responses: arrest, send the perpetrator away from the home for eight hours, or provide advice. —The Sydney Morning Herald (2018)

Here's some advice about saving on gas, as Michael Eatson marks his final week as president of Ontario's TADA. —Toronto Star (2022)

I have received a lot of advice here about how to talk to children about scary news, explain this unusual election, and discuss why things don't seem fair or just. —The Washington Post (2016)

Here's a solid gold piece of advice: be wary of anyone offering you solid gold pieces of advice. —The Guardian (2018)

Recommended Further Reading

'Advice' or 'Advise'? What Is the Difference?

Real-World Examples of Misuse