In British English, use practice as the noun (football practice) and practise as the verb (I practise every day). In American English, practice is used for both.
The Core Difference
In British English, “practice” (with a C) is always the noun — the activity or habit itself: medical practice, it takes practice. “Practise” (with an S) is the verb — the act of doing something repeatedly to improve: I practise the piano daily.
American English does not make this distinction and uses “practice” for both the noun and the verb, which is why the split spelling can confuse learners exposed to both varieties.
- noun (British) → practice: good practice, dental practice
- verb (British) → practise: practise your English every day
- American English → practice for both noun and verb
Practice and Practise in Context
He set up his own dental practice (British English, noun).
She practises yoga every morning (British English, verb).
In American English: She practices yoga every morning.
Regular practice is essential for learning a language.
You need to practise (BrE) more if you want to improve your practice routine.
Common Mistakes
| Incorrect | Correct | Why |
|---|---|---|
| ✗ I practice the guitar every day (British English, verb) | ✓ I practise the guitar every day | BrE verb needs S |
| ✗ she runs a successful practise (British English, noun) | ✓ she runs a successful practice | BrE noun needs C |
| ✗ good practise makes perfect (British English, noun) | ✓ good practice makes perfect | BrE noun needs C |
| ✗ we should practise good habits (American English writer using BrE spelling inconsistently) | ✓ we should practice good habits (AmE) / practise (BrE, verb) | choose one variety consistently |
| ✗ his medical practice, and he practices there (mixed spelling in BrE text) | ✓ his medical practice, and he practises there | BrE keeps noun/verb spellings distinct |
Same pattern as ADVICE (noun) / ADVISE (verb). -CE is a thing (noun), -SE is an action (verb) in British English. American English simplifies everything to practice.
Related Questions
- Practice vs Practise — full confusing-words comparison page with additional examples and exercises.
- All Confusing Words — browse all 300+ word-pair guides.
- All Questions — more quick-answer pages.
- Grammar Quiz — test your knowledge of confusing word pairs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core British English rule?
“Practice” (with a C) is the noun; “practise” (with an S) is the verb. This mirrors the advice/advise pattern exactly.
Does American English use two spellings too?
No — American English uses “practice” for both the noun and the verb, with no separate “practise” spelling in standard use.
Which spelling should I use if I'm not sure which English variety to follow?
If your audience or style guide is American, always use “practice”. If British, use “practice” for the noun and “practise” for the verb, and be consistent throughout your writing.
Does this pattern apply to other words?
Yes — “licence” (noun) / “license” (verb) follows the identical British English pattern, as does “advice” (noun) / “advise” (verb), though advice/advise is consistent across both varieties, unlike practice/practise.
Is practitioner spelled with a C or an S?
With a C — “practitioner” (a person who practises a profession) always uses “c” in both British and American English, regardless of the noun/verb split elsewhere.
Why does this confuse many English learners?
Because textbooks and media mix British and American sources, learners often see both “practice” and “practise” used inconsistently, without realising the distinction depends on the variety of English and the grammatical role of the word.
Is practising spelled with one S or two?
With one S — in British English, “practising” (verb form, present participle) keeps the S-spelling of the verb “practise”.
Does spelling variation between BrE and AmE matter in exams?
Yes — exams like IELTS (which follows British conventions) expect the practice/practise distinction to be respected, while American standardised tests expect “practice” throughout.
Is best practice spelled with a c or an s?
With a C — “best practice” is always a noun phrase, so it takes “practice” in both British and American English, never “practise”.
Are practice and practise pronounced differently?
No — both are pronounced identically, ending in a soft “s” sound, so in British English the noun/verb distinction can only be identified from spelling and context, never from sound.