Do you often get confused about when to use practise and when to use practice? If so, you are not alone. Many people struggle with these two words, especially in British English, where they have different spellings and meanings depending on the context. In this article, we will explain the difference between practise or practice, and how to use them correctly in your writing.
What is the difference between practise and practice in British and American English?
In British English, “practise” is a verb, and “practice” is a noun. In American English, “practice” serves as both the verb and the noun. Use spelling cues from “advice” and “advise” or consider the pronunciation to differentiate.
For example, you can say:
- I need to practise my piano skills. (verb)
- She goes to the doctor’s practice every week. (noun)
However, in American English, practice is both the verb and the noun, and practise is not normally used. Therefore, you can say:
- I need to practice my piano skills. (verb)
- She goes to the doctor’s practice every week. (noun)
The same rule applies to other words that end with -ise or -ice, such as advise and advice, devise and device, and exercise and exercise. In British English, the -ise ending is for verbs and the -ice ending is for nouns. In American English, the -ice ending is for both verbs and nouns.
Here is a table that summarizes the difference between practise and practice in British and American English:
| British English | American English |
|---|---|
| practise (verb) | practice (verb) |
| practice (noun) | practice (noun) |
How to remember the difference between practise and practice?
One way to remember the difference between practise and practice is to use the spelling of advice and advise as a guide. Advice is a noun that means a suggestion or an opinion, and advise is a verb that means to give advice.
For example, you can say:
- He gave me some good advice. (noun)
- She advised me to study harder. (verb)
The spelling of advice and advise is the same in both British and American English. Therefore, you can use them as a reminder that in British English, the -ise ending is for verbs and the -ice ending is for nouns.
For example, you can say:
- He gave me some good advice. (noun)
- She advised me to practise more. (verb)
Another way to remember the difference between practise and practice is to use the sound of the letter c or s as a clue. In British English, the -ise ending is pronounced with a /z/ sound, like in zoo. The -ice ending is pronounced with a /s/ sound, like in see.
For example, you can say:
- I need to /præktɪz/ (practise) my piano skills. (verb)
- She goes to the doctor’s /præktɪs/ (practice) every week. (noun)
However, in American English, the -ice ending is pronounced with a /z/ sound, like in zoo, for both verbs and nouns. For example, you can say:
- I need to /præktɪz/ (practice) my piano skills. (verb)
- She goes to the doctor’s /præktɪz/ (practice) every week. (noun)
Here is a table that shows the pronunciation of practise and practice in British and American English:
| British English | American English |
|---|---|
| /præktɪz/ (verb) | /præktɪz/ (verb) |
| /præktɪs/ (noun) | /præktɪz/ (noun) |
Do practise and practice are used as a noun, verb, or adjective?
In British English, practise is used as a verb and practice is used as a noun. In American English, practice is used as both a verb and a noun, and practise is not normally used.
Here is an example of how to use them in a sentence:
- She needs to practise her French. (British English, verb)
- She needs to practice her French. (American English, verb)
- He has a lot of practice in cooking. (British English, noun)
- He has a lot of practice in cooking. (American English, noun)
How to use practise and practice in a sentence?
To use practise and practice correctly in a sentence, you need to pay attention to the context and the meaning of the words. Here are some examples of how to use practise and practice in British and American English:
- You need to practise your spelling. (British English, verb)
- You need to practice your spelling. (American English, verb)
- She has a lot of practice in public speaking. (British English, noun)
- She has a lot of practice in public speaking. (American English, noun)
- He practises yoga every morning. (British English, verb)
- He practices yoga every morning. (American English, verb)
- They run a successful law practice. (British English, noun)
- They run a successful law practice. (American English, noun)
Conclusion
Practise and practice are two words that have different spellings and meanings depending on the context and the variety of English. In British English, practise is a verb and practice is a noun. In American English, practice is both the verb and the noun.
