Practice and practise sound the same, and the difference is the job of the word. In British English, practice with a c is the noun: training, a habit, or the office of a doctor or lawyer. Practise with an s is the verb: to do something repeatedly in order to improve.
The same letter pattern appears in advice and advise. The c form is the noun, and the s form is the verb. American English uses practice for both jobs, so American readers do not face this choice.
This page follows British English, because the two spellings are the point of the lesson. The drill has 15 sentences, and every answer names the noun or the verb.
What each word means
practice
practice (noun in British English): training or repetition, a usual custom, or the business of a doctor or lawyer. "Practice makes perfect."
practise
practise (verb in British English): to do an activity regularly in order to become better at it. Forms: practise, practised, practising.
The rule
Practice with a c is the noun
- Training or repetition: "You need more practice before the exam."
- A habit or custom: "It is common practice to tip in restaurants."
- A professional business: "She works in a busy dental practice."
- Noun phrases keep the c: practice match, practice room, medical practice, in practice.
Practise with an s is the verb
- Practise + activity: "She practises the violin every evening."
- Practise + -ing: "He is practising speaking English."
- The past is practised and the -ing form is practising, both with s.
- The proverb "practise what you preach" uses the verb with an s.
The quick test
- Can you put the, my or more in front of the word? Then it is the noun practice with a c.
- Does the word follow to, can, will or should? Then it is the verb practise with an s.
- Can you replace the word with training? Use practice. Can you replace it with train? Use practise.
- If you write for an American reader, use practice everywhere. The rest of this page follows British English.
Related forms
- Practised as an adjective means skilled: "a practised performer". The spelling keeps the s in British English.
- Practising as an adjective appears in practising doctor or practising lawyer.
- Practically is a separate adverb meaning almost or in a practical way. It is not part of this pair.
- The pronunciation is the same for both spellings: PRACT-iss in British English.
How to remember
The trick: In British English, c for the noun (practice, like advice) and s for the verb (practise, like advise).
Examples
- I need more practice before the exam.More comes before a noun, so practice with a c is correct.
- She practises the violin every evening.The verb practise with an s takes the violin as its object.
- It is common practice to tip in restaurants.Common is an adjective describing the noun practice.
- He is practising his English with a podcast.The -ing verb form is practising with an s.
- The team has a practice match on Friday.Practice is a noun used before another noun here.
- You should practise your presentation.After should, the base verb practise with an s is correct.
- Practice makes perfect.The proverb starts with the noun practice with a c.
- She works in a busy dental practice.A dental practice is a business, so the noun has a c.
Common mistakes
- Wrong: I need more practise before the exam. Right: I need more practice before the exam.
- More comes before a noun, and the noun is practice with a c.
- Wrong: She practices the piano every day. Right: She practises the piano every day.
- In British English the verb is practise with an s.
- Wrong: It is common practise to shake hands. Right: It is common practice to shake hands.
- The adjective common describes the noun practice with a c.
- Wrong: You must practice every day. Right: You must practise every day.
- After must, the base verb practise with an s is needed in British English.
- Wrong: He is a practise lawyer. Right: He is a practising lawyer.
- The adjective before a noun is practising with an s in British English.
Practice drill
Answer all 15 questions. Each answer is marked at once, and the rule is explained under the question.
I need more ___ before the test.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. practice More comes before a noun, and the British noun is practice with a c.
She ___ the piano every day.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. practises The British verb practises with an s takes the piano as its object.
It is common ___ to shake hands.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. practice The adjective common describes the noun practice with a c.
He is ___ his speech in the mirror.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D. practising The British -ing verb form is practising with an s.
You should ___ your English every day.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. practise After should, the base British verb practise with an s is correct.
The doctor works in a busy ___.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. practice A doctor's business is a practice, spelled with a c.
We have football ___ on Tuesday.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. practice Practice before another noun is the c spelling: practice session.
She ___ law in London.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D. practises The British verb for working as a lawyer is practises with an s.
It takes a lot of ___ to play well.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. practice A lot of comes before the uncountable noun practice with a c.
I ___ the guitar for an hour a day.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. practise The subject I takes the British base verb practise with an s.
The team ___ was cancelled.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. practice The team's session is the noun practice with a c.
He needs to ___ his pronunciation.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D. practise After to, the base British verb practise with an s is needed.
Medical ___ has changed in ten years.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. practice Medical describes the noun practice with a c.
She is ___ yoga every morning.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. practising The British -ing verb form after is is practising with an s.
You will improve if you ___ regularly.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. practise After you, the British base verb practise with an s is correct.
Questions learners ask
Is practice ever a verb?
In American English, yes: "I practice every day." In British English, the verb is spelled practise: "I practise every day." Choose the system and stay with it throughout a document.
Why does British English keep two spellings?
The pattern comes from French and Latin via older English. Noun forms often kept c (advice, practice, device) while the matching verbs took s (advise, practise, devise). American spelling reforms made each pair use one form.
How can I remember which spelling is the noun?
Remember the pair advice and practice: both nouns end with -ice in British English, and the c sounds like an s. The verbs advise and practise end with -ise and have a z sound. One pattern covers both pairs.
More confusing words
Speak vs talk
Speak is for languages and formal or one-way moments. Talk is for conversation and friendly exchange.
Learn vs teach
Learn means you receive knowledge or a skill. Teach means you give that knowledge to someone else.
Stationary vs stationery
Stationary with -ary means not moving. Stationery with -ery means the paper and pens you write with.
Browse all the confusing word pairs or take the free A1 to C2 level test to find your starting point.