Practice vs Practise: How to Use Them Correctly with Examples & Difference

When it comes to mastering English, even the small details like spellings can make a huge difference. One of the most common origins of confusion for learners is the difference between practise or practice. They might seem alike, but the use relies on whether you are following American English or British English patterns. In this blog we will break down the practising or practicing meaning and key differences by providing clear examples for each usage. We will also offer some tips for beginner English learners to easily remember the differences. 

What Is the Difference Between Practice and Practise?

The difference between practise vs practice often trips people up, especially when you are switching between American and British English. It is one of those small quirks that can make a big difference in how your writing is perceived.

1. Practice (noun): It refers to the act of performing an activity or the place where a professional works (e.g., medical or legal practice). 

2. Practise (verb): It refers to the act of doing something repeatedly to improve skill or proficiency (e.g., practising a musical instrument). 

In British English, the Practice vs Practise distinction is clear: practice is the noun, and practise is the verb. However, in American English, there is no such distinction; both the noun and the verb are spelt as practice. 

Best Practice or Best Practise - Correct Usage Explained

The term 'best practice' means that a certain method of doing something has been shown to work well; however, differentiating between the term 'best practice', which relates to the method of doing something, and the use of the term practicing or practicing on the other hand, which relates to the action of actually performing the methods, may confuse some writers.

• Best Practice:- It is a term that is used as a noun to describe a procedure or method that is recognised as the most effective within a specific field. The plural form, best practices, is often used to refer to a set of these widely accepted approaches.

• Best Practice:- The correct usage is "best practice" or "best practices" (spelt with a "c") in both British and American English. The form "best practices" is incorrect, as the word "practice" is never used as a noun in any English variant.

If you have failed to comprehend practising or practising meaning after reading the above explanation, there is help available at a writing service such as 'do my assignment for me'.

Confused between using “practice” and “practise” correctly?

Seek Expert Support to Learn the Accurate Usage!

Get Today

British English Usage: Practice vs Practise

In British English, it is pretty straightforward when to use practise vs practice UK. To help clarify the difference, let's look at some practice vs practise examples:-

Practice (noun): The term 'practice' refers to the work or activity someone regularly engages in, especially in professional fields.

• Example: "Dr Smith runs a successful practice in the heart of the city."
• Example: "He attends football practice every Thursday."

 Practise (verb): The verb 'practise' refers to performing an activity repeatedly in order to improve skills or technique.

•  Example: "To become a great pianist, you need to practise for hours every day."
• Example: "She plans to practise her presentation tonight before the big meeting."

While writing in practice, you have to remember that 'practice' is the noun (like business or regular activity), and practise is the verb (for actually doing the activity). 

American English Usage: Practice

If you're writing for an American audience, there's no need to worry about the noun/verb distinction. In the United States, 'practice' is used for both the noun and the verb forms. Let's look at some practice vs practise examples to take a brief of their usage:

• Example (noun): "He opened a law practice right after graduation."
• Example (verb): "She needs to practise more before the tennis match." 

In American English, they do not make a distinction between practise or practice UK, so whether you are talking about the action or the place of work, it is always just 'practice'.

Real-World Examples: Medical, Legal, Sports & Education

To illustrate and demonstrate how in practice it can be applied within the real world, below is a selection of examples from many industries. If you ever need help selecting which of these terms to use for your assignments, an assignment writing service UK can provide you with the necessary guidance and expertise to ensure you choose the appropriate term.

 Medical Context

• "Dr. Lee has been running his practice for over 20 years, specialising in paediatric care."
• "To become a skilled surgeon, one must practise techniques under supervision until they are mastered."

Legal Context:

• "The lawyer has a thriving practice in corporate law."
• "New lawyers are expected to practise law under the mentorship of experienced attorneys."

Sports Context:

• "The team has daily practice sessions to prepare for the championship."
• "To improve your tennis skills, you must practise your serve every day."

Educational Context:

• "Students are encouraged to attend practice sessions for extra help before exams."
• "The student decided to practise his speech in front of a mirror before the big presentation."

The example above follows British English conventions, where "practise" is used as the verb and "practice" is the noun. In American English, both the noun and the verb use "practice".

What Are the Tips to Remember the Difference? 

It is easy to get tripped up with spelling, but here are a few tricks to help you remember when to use Practice vs Practise:

British English Mnemonics:

• Think of "practise" (verb) as the action, and the extra "s" can remind you of "s" for "skill" or "skilful action".
• Practice (noun) is something you do regularly, so it is related to a place or a thing. 

American English Mnemonics:

• Simply remember, practice does it all; there is no need to worry about the "s"; you can use practice for both nouns and verbs. 

If you are unsure about something and need help with more complex writing tasks, do not hesitate to reach out to our English assignment help service. 

Where to Learn More About Practice or Practise?

Now that you know the distinctions between the terms practise vs practice, utilise those two definitions in your writing to become more comfortable with your English grammar. Additionally, should you desire additional instruction, consider using an online grammar resource service that provides expert support. To get detailed information regarding grammar rules, please refer to the Oxford English Dictionary or the Cambridge Dictionary. Additionally, you should check the originality of your document; for that, you can use a plagiarism checker.