Practise or Practice: How to Remember Which Is Which
Posted on 17th April by Admin
Practise and practice are among the most commonly confused words in British English — not because the difference is complicated, but because the two spellings look so similar and are pronounced identically. In British English, the choice between them depends on whether you are using the word as a noun or a verb. Once you understand that distinction, you will never confuse them again.
This guide explains the difference clearly, gives you a reliable memory trick, and covers the American English convention for comparison.
The Quick Answer
In British English:
Practice (with a C) is the noun — the activity, the session, the habit, the place of work.
Practise (with an S) is the verb — the action of doing something repeatedly to improve.
In American English:
Practice (with a C) is used for both noun and verb.
Practice as a Noun, Practise as a Verb
In British English the spelling changes depending on the grammatical role of the word in your sentence.
Use practice (C) when the word is a noun — when it refers to a thing:
Football practice starts at 6pm. (a session)
Reading every day is good practice. (a habit)
She runs a GP practice in Manchester. (a place of work)
It takes practice to write well. (the activity itself)
That is standard practice in the industry. (an established procedure)
Use practise (S) when the word is a verb — when it refers to an action:
You need to practise every day to improve. (to do something repeatedly)
She practises the piano for an hour each morning. (present tense)
He has been practising medicine for twenty years. (present participle)
They practised the presentation three times before the meeting. (past tense)
What About American English?
In American English, practice (with a C) is used for both the noun and the verb. There is no practise in American English — it would be flagged as a spelling error. If you are reading an American text and see practice used as a verb, this is the correct American convention, not an error.
For British English writers, the American convention can reinforce the confusion — particularly for those who consume a lot of American media or use American spell-checkers. If your spell-checker is set to American English, it will not flag practise as incorrect, which can lead to accidental Americanisms in British English writing.
The Memory Trick That Always Works
The simplest and most reliable way to remember this distinction is to compare it to another British English noun/verb pair that works the same way:
Advice (noun, C) — Can I give you some advice?
Advise (verb, S) — I would advise you to apply early.
Practice and practise work exactly the same way. C for the noun, S for the verb.
Try substituting advice/advise into your sentence. If advice fits, use practice. If advise fits, use practise:
She went to football ___. → She went to football advice? No. → Use practice.
You need to ___ every day. → You need to advise every day? No. → Use practise.
Once you have this trick in your memory, you will never mix them up again.
Examples in Context
Academic Writing
Reflective practice is widely used in professional development frameworks. (noun)
Students are encouraged to practise peer review as part of the module. (verb)
The practice of citation has evolved significantly in the digital age. (noun)
Professional Writing
This approach is now standard practice across the industry. (noun)
The firm practises employment law and corporate litigation. (verb)
Best practice guidelines were updated in 2023. (noun)
Everyday Writing
The choir practises every Thursday evening. (verb)
She missed hockey practice because of a doctor’s appointment. (noun)
It takes years of practice to master a musical instrument. (noun)
Tricky Cases
Medical and Legal Practices
A doctor’s surgery, a law firm, or an accountancy firm are all referred to as a practice (noun with C). The professionals who work there practise their profession (verb with S):
She joined a GP practice in Bristol. (noun — the place of work)
He has practised as a barrister for fifteen years. (verb — the action)
In Practice vs In Practise
The phrase “in practice” — meaning in reality, as opposed to in theory — always uses the noun form with C: In practice, the policy has proved difficult to implement. You would never write “in practise.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it football practice or football practise?
Football practice — with a C. When you are referring to a training session or the activity of training, you are using the word as a noun. In British English, the noun form is always spelled with a C: practice.
Is it best practice or best practise?
Best practice — with a C. This is a noun phrase referring to an established standard or procedure. In British English, the noun form is always practice (C).
Is it a GP practice or GP practise?
A GP practice — with a C. The medical surgery or clinic is a noun, so it takes the C spelling. The GP themselves practises medicine — that is the verb form, with an S.
Why does American English only use practice?
American English simplified many British English noun/verb spelling distinctions. In the case of practice/practise, American English retained only the C spelling for both functions, eliminating the distinction that British English maintains. The same simplification applies to licence/license, where American English uses only license for both noun and verb.
Is practised or practiced correct in British English?
In British English, the past tense of the verb is practised — with an S, following the verb form. In American English, it is practiced — with a C, following the American convention of using practice for both noun and verb.
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Summary
In British English, practice (C) is the noun and practise (S) is the verb
In American English, practice (C) is used for both
Memory trick: C for noun, S for verb — just like advice/advise
Best practice, football practice, a GP practice — all nouns, all C
To practise medicine, to practise an instrument, practised — all verb forms, all S
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