Between advice and advise, impact and impart

Avoiding common errors in the use of English

Advice is a noun; that is the name of guidance or recommendations offered with regard to prudent future action; an opinion about what you should do.

For example:

1. If you’re sick, my advice is to see a doctor.

2. My father gave me some advice before his demise.

3. She rejected the pieces of advice her mother gave her concerning youthful exuberance.

One can ask for advice, give advice on a matter, seek/reject/accept/ignore/follow advice; there can also be different types of advice: dietary, financial, legal, medical, scientific, technical etc.

Advice is a noncount noun, it cannot take an ‘s’. I rejected his advices pieces of advice or some of his advice. Use a piece of/pieces to specify the unit or the determiners some, most, little, a little, but NEVER many, few or a few.

Advise

Advise is a verb; to offer an opinion or suggestion. This is different from what you offer (as in advice); this is that act of doing, of giving, of offering that advice.

For example:

1. I advised him to go home.

2. You are not advised to leave here.

3. I strongly advise you to lose weight.

1. My _____ is for you to refuse the _____ of the wicked. A. advise/advice B. advice/advice C. advice/advise D. advise/advise (JAMB 2015)

2. The young lady decided to _____ A. do away with the many advices given by her relatives B. reject all the advices given by her relations C. take to all the advice given by her relations D. take to all the advices given by her relations E. eject all the advice given by her relatives

Impact versus impart

Impact is a marked effect or influence; an effect, an impression, an influence as in our regional measures have had a significant impact on unemployment; Her paper discusses the likely impact of global warming on climate change.

impact on: Internet shopping has begun to have a serious impact on traditional bookshops. Make an impact: She’s an excellent writer who is already making a real impact in the world of literature.

Impart is a verb, which means to make (information, knowledge, belief) known, as in the teachers imparted a great deal of knowledge to their pupils.

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Yours in English,

Francis