Please Advise or Please Advice: Understanding the Right Choice in American English (With Examples

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Written By virgini woolf

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Please Advise or Please Advice can confuse people when a tough decision perplexes you and you turn to someone for guidance, information, or advice.Grammar experts explain that Please advise is the correct phrase because advise is a transitive verb, while advice is a noun. It is widely used in email, business writing, and professional communication,

and is grammatically accepted. In India, it remains common in work-related emails, office communication, and professional letters, especially when asking for guidance, information, a recommendation, or instructions. Common uses include Please advise us, Please advise on the necessary actions, and Please advise of the necessary steps.

In professional writing, I would use sparingly when a softer tone is better because Please advise can sound formal, stiff, old-fashioned, impolite, rude, or demanding, depending on the content and situation. If you seek out someone who has faced similar choices,

pay close attention as they tell you how they weighed the options and give suggestions that may benefit your situation. You can carefully implement those suggestions and thank them for giving you useful guidance. Yes, you should choose wording that matches the workplace and the intended language of your communication


What Does “Please Advise” Mean?

what-does-please-advise-mean

Please advise is a polite request asking someone to give information, guidance, or recommendations.

It simply means:

  • Please tell me.
  • Please let me know.
  • Please give me guidance.
  • Please inform me.

The phrase is extremely common in:

  • Business emails
  • Customer support
  • Professional communication
  • Academic writing
  • Formal requests

Examples

  • Please advise if the meeting has been rescheduled.
  • Please advise whether payment has been received.
  • Please advise on the next steps.

What Does “Please Advice” Mean?

The phrase please advice is grammatically incorrect in American English.

Why?

Because advice is a noun, not a verb.

You cannot ask someone to “advice” you because advice is a thing (guidance), while advise is the action (giving guidance).

✅ Correct:

Please advise me.

❌ Incorrect:

Please advice me.


Advise vs Advice: Understanding the Difference

Advise vs Advice: Understanding the Difference
FeatureAdviseAdvice
Part of SpeechVerbNoun
MeaningTo give guidanceGuidance or recommendation
Action or Thing?ActionThing
Correct with “Please”✅ Yes❌ No
ExamplePlease advise us.Thank you for your advice.

This is one of the most important distinctions in English grammar.


Sentence Structure of “Please Advise”

Sentence Structure of "Please Advise"

Understanding sentence structure makes the difference much easier.

Basic Pattern

Please + advise + object

Examples:

  • Please advise me.
  • Please advise us.
  • Please advise the team.
  • Please advise customers.

Another pattern:

Please advise + clause

Examples:

  • Please advise whether the package has shipped.
  • Please advise if you agree.
  • Please advise when the meeting starts.

Grammar Rules for Using Advise and Advice

Grammar Rules for Using Advise and Advice

Rule 1: Advise Is Always a Verb

A verb describes an action.

Examples:

  • I advise patience.
  • She advised me to wait.
  • Please advise immediately.

Rule 2: Advice Is Always a Noun

A noun names a thing.

Examples:

  • Your advice helped me.
  • Thank you for the advice.
  • His advice was useful.

Rule 3: Never Replace One with the Other

Incorrect:

  • Please advice.
  • She adviced me.
  • Can you advice me?

Correct:

  • Please advise.
  • She advised me.
  • Can you advise me?

Rule 4: Use “Advised” for Past Actions

Examples:

  • The doctor advised rest.
  • My teacher advised me to study harder.
  • We were advised to leave early.

Real-Life Examples of Please Advise

In Business Emails

  • Please advise if the contract is ready.
  • Please advise on the project timeline.
  • Please advise whether additional documents are required.

At School

  • Please advise which course I should choose.
  • Please advise me about my assignment.

Customer Service

  • Please advise when my order will arrive.
  • Please advise if my refund has been processed.

Workplace

  • Please advise the team about tomorrow’s meeting.
  • Please advise us on the new policy.

25 Example Sentences

Correct Examples

  • Please advise me.
  • Please advise us soon.
  • Please advise if payment was received.
  • Please advise when the office opens.
  • Please advise whether this information is correct.
  • I appreciate your advice.
  • Her advice saved me money.
  • My lawyer advised me to remain calm.
  • The teacher advised extra practice.
  • We need your advice.

Incorrect Examples

  • Please advice me.
  • Can you advice us?
  • He advice me yesterday.
  • I will advice him.
  • She gave good advise.

Common Mistakes and Corrections

IncorrectCorrect
Please advicePlease advise
Can you advice me?Can you advise me?
She advice me.She advised me.
Thank you for advise.Thank you for your advice.
He gave many advises.He gave much advice.

Comparison Table: Advise vs Advice

FeatureAdviseAdvice
Word TypeVerbNoun
Pronunciation/ədˈvaɪz//ədˈvaɪs/
Used After “Please”YesNo
Can Show ActionYesNo
Receives ObjectsYesNo
ExamplePlease advise me.Thank you for your advice.

Read More;What Are Conjunctive Adverbs? A Complete Guide with Examples

Verb Usage and Verb Forms

Understanding verbs helps avoid this mistake.

Base VerbPastPast ParticiplePresent Participle
AdviseAdvisedAdvisedAdvising

Examples:

  • I advise students daily.
  • She advised me yesterday.
  • We have advised our clients.
  • He is advising the committee.

Remember:

Advice has no verb forms because it is a noun.


Connection with English Tenses

The word advise works in all English tenses.

Present Simple

  • I advise caution.

Present Continuous

  • She is advising customers.

Past Simple

  • They advised us yesterday.

Present Perfect

  • We have advised many clients.

Future Indefinite

  • I will advise you tomorrow.
  • She will advise the manager.
  • They will advise us after the meeting.

These examples connect naturally with future indefinite tense examples and demonstrate correct verb usage.


Clauses and Grammar Usage

The verb advise is often followed by different clauses.

That Clause

  • Please advise that payment has been completed.

Whether Clause

  • Please advise whether the meeting is confirmed.

If Clause

  • Please advise if changes are necessary.

Wh-Clause

  • Please advise where I should park.
  • Please advise when we should arrive.
  • Please advise how the process works.

Using these clauses creates clear and professional communication.


Related Grammar Concepts

Learning advise and advice also strengthens your understanding of other grammar topics.

These include:

  • Has vs have
  • Use of had
  • Sentence structure
  • Tenses
  • Verbs
  • Clauses
  • 10 examples of adjective
  • Future indefinite tense examples

Although these topics are different, mastering each one improves overall English writing and speaking skills.


Tips to Remember the Difference

Here are a few easy memory tricks:

  • Advise ends with -se and is a verb.
  • Advice ends with -ce and is a noun.
  • If you can replace the word with tell, use advise.
  • If you can replace it with guidance, use advice.

Quick test:

Please _____ me.

The blank needs a verb.

Correct answer:

advise


Conclusion

Please advise is the correct phrase when you want to ask someone for information, guidance, recommendations, or instructions. Advise is a verb, while advice is a noun, so Please advice is incorrect. Although Please advise remains common in professional emails, business writing, and workplace communication, it can sometimes sound formal or demanding, so a softer alternative may be better depending on the situation.

FAQs

Is “Please advise” correct?

Yes. Please advise is grammatically correct and commonly used in professional communication.

Is “Please advice” correct?

No. Please advice is incorrect because advice is a noun, while advise is a verb.

Is “Please advise” formal?

Yes. Please advise has a formal and professional tone. In some situations, it may sound slightly stiff or old-fashioned.

Can I use “Please advise” in an email?

Yes. Please advise is widely used in business and work-related emails when asking for information, guidance, or instructions.

What is a softer alternative to “Please advise”?

You can say “Please let me know,” “Could you please let me know?”, or “Please let us know what you recommend.”

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