Practice vs Practise: Quick Reference Table with Examples
Many students wonder about the “difference between practice and practise” in English. Knowing the correct spelling and usage is important for exam marks, writing skills, and better spoken English. This topic also helps in daily life, official communication, and competitive exams.
| Form | British English | American English | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Noun | practice | practice | She needs more practice before the match. |
| Verb | practise | practice | They practise every morning. They practice every morning. (US) |
Difference Between Practice and Practise
The main difference between practice and practise is in their spelling and grammatical use. In British English, practice is a noun, while practise is a verb. American English uses practice as both noun and verb, leaving out practise completely.
Practice vs Practise: British and American English
British English makes a clear distinction: use practice as a noun and practise as a verb. In American English, practice covers both uses. For example, in the UK you “attend music practice” (noun) and “practise the piano” (verb). In the US, it’s always “practice,” like “practice medicine.”
Examples in British and American English
- British: “His tennis practice helped him” (noun). “He practises tennis daily” (verb).
- American: “His tennis practice helped him” (noun). “He practices tennis daily” (verb).
When to Use Practice and Practise (Grammar Rules)
Use practice as a noun when talking about the name of an activity or habit. Use practise as a verb when talking about doing an action, in countries following British spelling. In American English, always use practice.
- Practice (noun): A habit, custom, or repeated activity.
Example: “Law is his practice.” - Practise (verb): Doing something to improve a skill.
Example: “Doctors must practise regularly.” (UK, Australia, India) - Practice (verb): Used everywhere in American English.
Example: “Doctors must practice regularly.” (US)
Extra Examples for Practice and Practise
Here are more example sentences to understand the difference between practice and practise:
- She goes to dance practice every Friday. (noun)
- You should practise writing essays daily. (UK: verb)
- Practice makes perfect. (noun)
- The team will practice on Saturday. (US: verb)
- He set up a dental practice in the city. (noun)
- You must practise speaking English before the exam. (UK: verb)
Words Similar to Practice/Practise (Patterns)
Some word pairs follow a similar pattern, especially in British English. For example, advice (noun) and advise (verb). Another example is licence (noun) vs license (verb). However, some words like “service” do not change between noun and verb. Knowing these patterns helps avoid mistakes.
| Noun | Verb | Example |
|---|---|---|
| advice | advise | She gave good advice. / He advised her well. |
| practice | practise | Her practice paid off. / She practises daily. |
| licence (UK) | license (UK) | He got his driving licence. / They license new drivers. |
Common Mistakes and Exam Tips
- Do not use “practise” as a noun in any form.
- In exams or formal letters, check if you need British or American spelling.
- In India and Australia, British rules are common: “practice” (noun), “practise” (verb).
- Tip: If you can use “advice” (noun) or “advise” (verb), the pattern is the same.
- Remember: In the U.S., use “practice” for everything.
Why Is the Practice vs Practise Rule Important?
Understanding practice vs practise is important for students in English exams, formal communications, and daily writing tasks. It helps avoid losing marks and makes your English look professional. Vedantu guides learners to use the correct form based on UK or US English, which is helpful in school or work.
Summary of Practice vs Practise
Practice and practise confuse many students. Remember: in British English, practice is the noun; practise is the verb. American English uses practice for both. Use these rules to choose the right spelling in exams, essays, and daily English. Learning similar word pairs makes you stronger in grammar and writing.
For related grammar topics, see Difference Between Was and Were or learn about Parts of Speech.
FAQs on What Is the Difference Between Practice and Practise in English?
1. What is the difference between "practice" and "practise" in English?
The difference between practice and practise lies primarily in their usage and spelling conventions, particularly between American and British English. In British English, "practise" is used as the verb, while "practice" is the noun. In American English, however, "practice" serves as both the noun and the verb.
2. When do I use "practice" or "practise" in the UK, Australia, and India?
In the UK and Australia, follow British English conventions: use "practise" as a verb (e.g., I practise the piano) and "practice" as a noun (e.g., My doctor's practice is busy). India generally uses British English, so the same rules apply. However, American spellings are becoming increasingly common in certain contexts.
3. Can "practice" be used as a verb in American English?
Yes, in American English, "practice" functions as both a noun and a verb. For example: "I practice yoga daily" (verb) and "That's a good practice" (noun).
4. How do you use "practice" and "practise" in one sentence?
To illustrate the difference, you could say: "My daily practice (noun) is to practise (verb) mindfulness meditation." This sentence showcases both word forms in their appropriate grammatical roles.
5. What are some other words like "practice/practise" (noun/verb pairs)?
Several English words show similar noun/verb spelling variations, reflecting British vs. American usage. Examples include: advice/advise, analyse/analyze, organise/organize. These differences often stem from historical variations in English spelling conventions.
6. When should I use practise and practice?
The choice between "practise" and "practice" depends on your location and the grammatical function of the word. In British English, "practise" is the verb, and "practice" is the noun. In American English, "practice" serves as both.
7. What is the difference between practice and practise other examples?
Here are some more examples to clarify the difference: "She practises (verb) the violin every day." "He has a successful medical practice (noun)." In American English, both sentences would use "practice" for both verb and noun roles.
8. Where to use practise?
Use "practise" as a verb primarily in British English. It indicates the act of doing something repeatedly to improve a skill, such as "I practise yoga." The noun form remains as "practice" in most instances.
9. Is practice a noun or verb?
The grammatical function of "practice" depends on the English variant. In British English, it's primarily a noun; in American English, it's both a noun and a verb. Understanding the context is key to correct usage.
10. Practice vs practise UK
In UK English, the spelling follows the distinction between noun and verb: "practice" (noun) and "practise" (verb). This convention aims for clearer grammatical distinction, reflecting the historical evolution of the language.
11. Difference between practice and practise in Hindi
The distinction between "practice" and "practise" is primarily relevant to English grammar. In Hindi, the equivalent word would likely depend on the specific context, needing translation based on whether it's the noun or verb form.
12. Practice or practise in India
While Indian English often follows British English conventions, there's growing acceptance of American English spellings. Thus, both "practice" and "practise" might be seen but traditionally "practise" (verb) and "practice" (noun) are standard.
