Please Advise or Please Advice: Understanding the Right Choice in American English helps you choose the correct phrase for clear business emails.
The distinction is simple: advice is a noun, while advise is a verb. When you are asking someone for guidance, information, help, or a response, the correct phrase is Please advise. This form is widely used in professional communication, especially in business emails, formal writing, and workplace messages.
Understanding the difference in meaning, part of speech, pronunciation, and spelling can help you avoid a common grammar mistake and communicate more clearly. Although both words sound similar, they have different grammatical functions, so using the right form matters when you write to a manager, client, co-worker, or other professional recipient.
Quick Answer: Is It “Please Advise” or “Please Advice”?
“Please advise” is correct. “Please advice” is incorrect when you want to ask someone for information, guidance, or a recommendation.
Here’s the essential difference:
| Word | Part of speech | Meaning | Example |
| advise | Verb | To give guidance, information, or a recommendation | “Please advise me on the next steps.” |
| advice | Noun | Guidance, information, or a recommendation | “Thank you for your advice.” |
The easiest rule is this:
You advise someone, but you give someone advice.
For example:
- Correct: “Please advise me about the schedule.”
- Incorrect: “Please advise me about the schedule.”
- Correct: “I appreciate your advice.”
- Incorrect: “I appreciate your advice.”
The phrase “Please advise” is widely used in professional correspondence as a request for an answer, clarification, information, or guidance.
Please Advise: Meaning and Correct Usage
What Does “Please Advise” Mean?
Please advise is a polite request asking another person to provide information, guidance, or a recommendation.
Depending on the context, it can mean:
- Please let me know.
- Please provide the requested information.
- Please tell me what you recommend.
- Please tell me what I should do next.
- Please give me your guidance on this matter.
For example, suppose you’re waiting for your manager to confirm a deadline. You could write:
“Please advise whether the deadline has changed.”
Here, advice means something close to informing me or letting me know.
The exact meaning depends on what follows the phrase. Compare these sentences:
- “Please advise whether the meeting is still scheduled.”
- “Please advise on the best approach.”
- “Please advise me of any changes.”
- “Please advise what you would recommend.”
The request stays polite, but its purpose changes slightly.
Is “Please Advise” Grammatically Correct?
Yes. “Please advise” is grammatically correct.
The key is the word advise, which functions as a verb. In a request such as “Please advise,” the subject is understood from context. The full idea can be understood as “Please advise me” or “Please advise us.”
This shortened construction is especially common in business correspondence. Grammarly notes that although some writers question whether the verb needs an explicit object, the phrase is established in usage and can be understood as an abbreviated request to provide an answer or guidance.
So there’s no grammatical reason to replace advice with advice.
When Should You Use “Please Advise”?
Use please advise when you want someone to respond with useful information or direction.
Common situations include:
- Asking about a deadline
- Requesting confirmation
- Asking for instructions
- Seeking professional guidance
- Requesting a decision
- Asking about a schedule
- Clarifying a problem
- Following up on an unanswered question
- Asking what action should be taken
For example:
“Please advise whether you need any additional documents.”
Or:
“Please advise us on how you would like to proceed.”
Both sentences use advice correctly because the word expresses an action.
Examples of “Please Advise”
Here are several natural examples:
- Please advise me of any changes to the schedule.
- Please advise whether the application has been approved.
- Please advise on the next steps.
- Please advise us when the documents arrive.
- Please advise if additional information is required.
- Please advise how you would like to proceed.
- Please advise me about the expected delivery date.
- Please advise whether we should submit the form again.
Notice how the surrounding words provide context. The phrase doesn’t have to stand alone.
Please Advice: Why It Is Usually Incorrect
Is “Please Advice” Correct?
No. “Please advice” is incorrect when “advice” is being used as a verb.
The problem isn’t the word please. The problem is the grammatical role of advice.
Advice is a noun. It refers to the guidance, recommendation, or information itself.
For example:
“Her advice was extremely helpful.”
The word advice names the guidance. It doesn’t describe the action of giving that guidance.
By contrast:
“She advised me to wait.”
Here, advice describes what she did. It’s a verb.
That’s the distinction that solves the entire problem.
When Can “Advice” Be Used Correctly?
Advice is perfectly correct when the sentence needs a noun.
For example:
- “Thank you for your advice.”
- “I need some advice.”
- “His advice helped me make a decision.”
- “She gave me useful advice.”
- “We should seek professional advice before proceeding.”
In each sentence, advice represents the guidance itself.
You can therefore write:
“Please give me your advice.”
But you can’t replace give me your advice with advice alone:
❌ “Please advice.”
✅ “Please advise.”
The first version tries to make a noun perform the job of a verb.
Advise vs. Advice: The Key Difference
The most important distinction is grammatical rather than semantic.
Advice is the action.
Advice is the thing being given.
Think of it like this:
Someone advises you → You receive advice.
This relationship makes the difference much easier to remember.
| Function | Correct word | Example |
| Giving guidance | advise | “I advise you to wait.” |
| Receiving guidance | advice | “I received good advice.” |
| Asking someone to guide you | advise | “Please advise me.” |
| Referring to guidance | advice | “Thank you for your advice.” |
| Requesting guidance | advise | “Could you advise me?” |
| Talking about a recommendation | advice | “Her advice was useful.” |
How to Remember Advise vs. Advice
A simple memory trick works surprisingly well:
Advice = action. Advice = information.
You can also use a substitution test.
If you could replace the word with recommend, you probably need advise.
- “I advise you to wait.”
- “I recommend that you wait.”
If you could replace the word with guidance, you probably need advice.
- “I need your advice.”
- “I need your guidance.”
Another useful pattern is:
You advise someone. You give someone advice.
Once that structure becomes familiar, “Please advice” starts looking as unusual as “Please recommend.”
“Please Advise” in American English
Is “Please Advise” Common in American English?
Yes. “Please advise” is established in American professional writing, especially in emails and other business communication.
You’ll encounter it when people need:
- Information
- Confirmation
- Instructions
- Clarification
- A decision
- Professional guidance
For example:
“Please advise whether the revised contract is ready for review.”
The phrase is grammatical and understandable. However, correctness and tone are two separate issues.
Is “Please Advise” Too Formal?
Not necessarily. But it can sound formal, stiff, or abrupt depending on the surrounding message.
For example:
“The documents are attached. Please advise.”
This is grammatically fine. Yet it doesn’t tell the reader exactly what information you want.
A more specific version might be:
“The documents are attached. Please advise whether any changes are needed.”
That version gives the reader a clear task.
Some style guides and business-writing discussions also note that “please advise” can sometimes sound impersonal or even demanding, particularly when it appears as a vague closing line. Its tone depends heavily on the rest of the email.
Professional Alternatives to “Please Advise”
American English gives you several alternatives that may sound more natural.
| Purpose | Alternative |
| Asking for information | Please let me know. |
| Asking for confirmation | Could you confirm this? |
| Requesting guidance | I’d appreciate your guidance. |
| Asking for an opinion | What do you recommend? |
| Asking about the next step | Could you let me know what I should do next? |
| Requesting a response | I’d appreciate your response when you have a chance. |
The best option depends on what you actually want.
If you’re asking for a simple fact, “Please let me know” may be clearer. If you’re seeking expert guidance, “I’d appreciate your advice” may fit better.
“Please Advise” vs. “Please Advice” in Emails
Professional emails are where this confusion appears most often.
Imagine that a customer has submitted paperwork and you’re waiting for confirmation. These versions aren’t equal:
❌ “Please advice if you need anything else.”
✅ “Please advise if you need anything else.”
The second version uses the verb correctly.
However, there’s another option:
“Please let me know if you need anything else.”
That sentence often sounds warmer and more conversational.
Which Form Should You Use in a Professional Email?
Use please advise when you want a concise, formal request.
For example:
“Please advise whether the proposed date works for you.”
Use please let me know when you want a more conversational tone:
“Please let me know whether the proposed date works for you.”
Both are clear. The difference is primarily one of style and tone, not grammatical correctness.
Is “Please Advise” a Good Email Closing?
It can be, but it isn’t always necessary.
Suppose your email already says:
“Could you confirm whether the meeting will take place on Thursday?”
Adding:
“Please advise.”
doesn’t provide much additional information.
The question already tells the recipient what you need.
A clearer email might simply end with:
“Could you confirm whether the meeting will take place on Thursday? Thank you.”
As Grammarly points out, “please advise” can sometimes function as unnecessary filler when the body of the email already makes the requested response obvious.
So the phrase isn’t wrong. It’s simply not required in every message.
Read More: Wasn’t vs. Weren’t: Complete Grammar Guide + Examples
Common Mistakes With Advise and Advice
“Please Advice Me”
❌ Incorrect: “Please advice me on this matter.”
✅ Correct: “Please advise me on this matter.”
The verb must be advised.
“I Need Some Advise”
❌ Incorrect: “I need some advise.”
✅ Correct: “I need some advice.”
Here, the sentence needs a noun because you’re referring to the guidance you want.
“Can You Advice Me?”
❌ Incorrect: “Can you advice me?”
✅ Correct: “Can you advise me?”
After can you, the sentence requires the base form of the verb. That verb is advise.
“Can You Give Me Advice?”
❌ Incorrect: “Can you give me an advise?”
✅ Correct: “Can you give me some advice?”
You can also say:
“Can you give me a piece of advice?”
The noun advice is generally uncountable in standard American English.
“He Gave Me Good Advices”
❌ Incorrect: “He gave me three advices.”
✅ Correct: “He gave me three pieces of advice.”
You can also say:
“He gave me some good advice.”
The plural form advice isn’t normally used for separate recommendations in standard American English. Use pieces of advice when you need to count individual recommendations.
Advice as an Uncountable Noun
One important detail goes beyond advice vs. advice: advice is normally an uncountable noun.
That means you generally don’t use a/an directly before it.
For example:
- ❌ “She gave me an advice.”
- ✅ “She gave me some advice.”
- ✅ “She gave me a piece of advice.”
- ✅ “He offered me useful advice.”
When you want to count individual recommendations, piece acts as the countable unit.
For example:
“My mentor gave me three pieces of advice.”
This structure is useful because each recommendation can now be counted.
Common Expressions With Advice
You will often see advice in these expressions:
- give advice
- receive advice
- ask for advice
- seek advice
- take advice
- follow advice
- ignore advice
- offer advice
- a piece of advice
- some useful advice
- professional advice
- sound advice
These patterns reinforce the fact that advice is a noun.
Advise as a Verb
The verb advise means to give someone information, guidance, or a recommendation about what to do.
It appears in several useful grammatical patterns.
Advise Someone
“The manager advised me.”
Here, I receive the action.
Advise Someone to Do Something
“The manager advised me to wait.”
This construction is especially common when someone recommends a particular action.
Advise Someone Against Something
“The lawyer advised him against signing the contract.”
This means the lawyer recommended that he not take the action.
You can also use a gerund:
“She advised against making a rushed decision.”
Advise on Something
“The consultant advised us on the new procedure.”
This structure focuses on the subject or area where guidance is provided.
Advise That…
“The consultant advised us to delay the launch.”
This construction introduces the recommendation itself.
These patterns show why advice belongs in “Please advise.” It is the verb that describes the requested action.
Advice as a Noun
Advice refers to the recommendation, guidance, or opinion that someone gives.
For example:
“Her advice saved us considerable time.”
The advice is the information or recommendation. It isn’t the action of giving it.
Common patterns include:
- give advice
- ask for advice
- take advice
- seek advice
- follow advice
- receive advice
- offer advice
Consider the difference:
“My supervisor advised me to revise the report.”
“My supervisor gave me useful advice about the report.”
The first sentence emphasizes the action. The second emphasizes the guidance.
Pronunciation: Advise vs. Advice
Spelling isn’t the only difference.
In standard American English, the final sounds differ:
- advice ends with a /z/ sound.
- advice ends with an /s/ sound.
The words therefore sound slightly different even though their spelling and meaning are closely related.
A practical way to remember this is:
advise → final z sound
advice → final s sound
This pronunciation distinction can help you notice the difference when speaking. However, grammar remains the more reliable guide when you’re writing.
Advise vs. Advice: A Simple Memory Trick
Here’s the shortest rule worth remembering:
Advice is something you do. Advice is something you give or receive.
Think of the relationship:
You advise me.
You give me advice.
I ask you to advise me.
I appreciate your advice.
Another useful test is to look at the word’s job in the sentence.
If it describes an action, choose advice.
If it names a recommendation or guidance, choose advice.
This simple distinction handles most everyday cases.
When “Please Advise” Can Sound Unclear
Grammatically correct doesn’t always mean best wording.
The phrase “Please advise” can be too broad when the recipient doesn’t know exactly what response you need.
Compare:
“Please advise.”
with:
“Please advise whether the revised deadline works for your team.”
The second sentence is much more useful because it identifies the requested information.
You can make professional emails clearer by naming the exact response you need.
Instead of:
“Please advise.”
Try:
“Please let me know whether you approve the revised schedule.”
Instead of:
“Please advise on this.”
Try:
“Could you advise us on which option would meet the project requirements?”
Specific questions reduce back-and-forth communication.
Formal vs. Informal Alternatives to “Please Advise”
The best expression depends on your audience and purpose.
| Situation | Natural wording |
| Formal business request | Please advise. |
| Asking for information | Please let me know. |
| Requesting confirmation | Could you confirm? |
| Seeking professional guidance | Could you advise me on this? |
| Asking for an opinion | What do you recommend? |
| Asking about a decision | What would you suggest? |
| Requesting help | I’d appreciate your guidance. |
| Casual conversation | What do you think? |
There’s no need to make every email sound overly formal. Good professional writing is often clear, specific, and direct.
Please Advise or Please Advice: Side-by-Side Examples
| Incorrect | Correct | Why? |
| Please advise me. | Please advise me. | Advise is the verb. |
| I need your advice. | I need your advice. | Advice is the noun. |
| Can you advise us? | Can you advise us? | The sentence needs a verb. |
| Thank you for your advice. | Thank you for your advice. | The sentence refers to guidance. |
| She gave me some advice. | She gave me some advice. | Advice is normally uncountable. |
| He gave me several pieces of advice. | He gave me several pieces of advice. | Use pieces of advice to count recommendations. |
| Please advise me on the issue. | Please advise on the issue. | Advice expresses the requested action. |
| I would like your advice. | I would like your advice. | The sentence needs the noun. |
Case Study: Choosing the Right Word in a Work Email
Imagine that an employee needs to ask a supervisor whether a report should be submitted today.
The first version says:
“Please advise if I should submit the report today.”
The problem is easy to spot once the grammatical roles are clear. Advice is a noun, but the sentence needs a verb.
A corrected version is:
“Please advise whether I should submit the report today.”
An even more conversational American English version could be:
“Please let me know whether I should submit the report today.”
All three ideas communicate the same basic request, but only the second and third versions use the grammar correctly.
Now consider a different sentence:
“I’d appreciate your advice about whether I should submit the report today.”
Here, advice is exactly right because the sentence refers to the guidance the employee wants to receive.
This small case study captures the entire distinction:
- Please advise = asking someone to perform the action.
- I’d appreciate your advice = referring to the guidance itself.
FAQs
Is “Please Advise” Correct in American English?
Yes, “Please advise” is grammatically correct in American English. It uses advise as a verb to ask someone for information, guidance, or a response.
Is “Please Advice” Correct?
No, “Please advice” is incorrect when you want to ask someone to provide guidance. Advice is a noun, while advise is the verb you need in this construction.
What Is the Difference Between Advise and Advice?
Advise is a verb meaning to give guidance or a recommendation. Advice is a noun meaning the guidance or recommendation itself. For example, “Please advise me” is correct, while “Thank you for your advice” uses the noun correctly.
Should I Write “Please Advise Me”?
Yes. “Please advise me” is correct when you’re asking someone to provide guidance or information. For example, “Please advise me on the next steps.”
Can I Say “Please Advice Me”?
No. The correct form is “Please advise me.” The word advise functions as the verb after please, while advice cannot perform that grammatical role.
Is “Advice” a Countable Noun?
Advice is generally an uncountable noun in standard American English. Instead of saying “an advice” or “three pieces of advice,” use “some advice” or “three pieces of advice.”
Is “Please Advise” Too Formal for an Email?
“Please advise” can sound formal or businesslike, but it isn’t grammatically wrong. For a friendlier tone, you can use “Please let me know” or “Could you let me know?”
What Is a Better Alternative to “Please Advise”?
The best alternative depends on your purpose. You can use “Please let me know,” “Could you confirm?” “What do you recommend?” or “I’d appreciate your guidance.” These options can sound more specific and conversational.
How Can I Remember Advice vs. Advice?
Use this simple rule: advice is an action, while advice is guidance. You advise someone, but you give someone advice. This distinction works in most everyday sentences.
Which Is Correct: “Thank You for Your Advise” or “Thank You for Your Advice”?
“Thank you for your advice” is correct. The sentence refers to the guidance someone provided, so it needs the noun advice, not the verb advise.
Conclusion
Choosing between “Please advise” and “Please advice” is much easier once you understand their grammatical roles. Advise is a verb that means to give information, guidance, or a recommendation, while advice is a noun that refers to the guidance itself. Therefore, “Please advise” is the correct expression when you’re asking someone for information or direction. In contrast, “Please advice” is incorrect in standard American English when used with this meaning. A quick rule can help: you advise someone, but you give someone advice.
Although “Please advise” is correct, it isn’t always the clearest or friendliest choice for every email. In many situations, “Please let me know,” “Could you confirm?” or “I’d appreciate your guidance” may sound more natural. The key is to match your wording with your purpose and audience. Once you remember that advise = verb and advice = noun, you’ll have a reliable way to avoid this common English mistake in both professional and everyday writing.
