Practice vs. Practise: What’s the Difference? 

The difference between whether to use practice vs practise can be confusing. Not only is the difference often ignored in colloquial settings in British English, but it is not a distinction made in US English (or American English). This means that you will frequently come across either word used grammatically incorrect. 

What’s more, both ‘practice’ and ‘practise’ are pronounced the same, so it’s only a difference that applies to the written word. Nevertheless, in some settings whether to use ‘practice’ or ‘practise’ can be an important distinction and so it’s worth understanding this. This guide will explain their meanings, historical origins, and regional usage while providing useful tips for writers. 

Practice or Practise? The Key Difference 

The key difference is as follows:  

• ‘Practice’ (noun): You use this version in both British and US English. 
• ‘Practise’ (verb): In contrast, you use this version only in British English. In US English, “practice” is used for both noun and verb forms. 

The fundamental distinction between ‘practice’ and ‘practise’ is as simple as that. It comes down to simple parts of speech, as well as the style of English in which you use it as a verb. In essence: 

• one is a noun;  
• one is a verb; 
• “-ise” is always the proper British verb, and; 
• “-ice” is always the proper American verb. 

Learning Tip: “I Advise…” instead of “I Advice…” 

This distinction only exists in British English and in American English, ‘practice’ is used as both a noun and a verb. One way to remember the distinction is to think of the difference between ‘advice’ and ‘advise.’ We would never say ‘I advice you to…’ so in the same way, you should say ‘I practise the piano’ rather than ‘I practice the piano.’  

Example Sentences for Practise vs Practice: 

• British English: She wants to practise her piano skills at home. (verb) 
• British English: Her daily piano practice has improved her technique. (noun) 
• US English: She wants to practice her piano skills at home. (verb) 
• US English: Her daily practice has improved her technique. (noun) 

So, to summarise: if you are using US English, you only need to use ‘practice,’ no matter the setting. If you are writing in British English, you should use ‘practise’ as a verb and ‘practice’ as a noun. 

Etymology and Historical Development 

Both ‘practice’ and ‘practise’ originate from the Latin word ‘practicare,’ which means ‘to perform’ or ‘to act.’ This term later originated in Old French as practiser or practique before entering Middle English as ‘practice’ in the Fourteenth Century (OED, 2025).  

The history of the word can be seen as follows: 

• 14th century: “Practice” first appeared in English as a noun, specifically in 1421 in the Rolls of Parliament as a noun (OED, 2025).  
• 16th century: “Practise” emerged as the verb form in British English, following a common pattern where nouns ending in ‘-ice’ had corresponding verbs ending in ‘-ise’ (OED, 2025).  

So, for example, Shakespeare uses both ‘practice’ and ‘practise’: In Henry the Sixth Part 1, (Act IV, Scene 1, line 7), he speaks of ‘Malicious practices against his state’ (Shakespeare, 1989, p.482)  In the same play, (Act II, Scene 1, line 25) he says, ‘let them practise and converse with spirits.’  (Shakespeare, p.472). So, by this point the verb and noun distinction was clear.  

Given that this noun/verb distinction was present in English by the Sixteenth Century, it would seem reasonable to suppose it would carry in the USA. It is true that the practice/practise distinction was present in the colonial period in America and in the early years of the USA, but by the time Webster published his dictionary in 1806, he spells the verb and noun forms as ‘practice’ and this is where the difference originates (Webster, 1850).

Webster’s Dictionary and the Practice vs Practise Issue 

When writing his dictionary, Noah Webster did more than simply record usage but imposed rules on spelling. He chose to streamline various spellings, choosing ‘practice’ over ‘practise’ to respect the etymology of the word from ‘practicare.’ So, the US English preference for ‘practice’ for both verb and noun forms are directly attributable to Webster’s influence in nineteenth-century English.

 ‘Practice’ vs. ‘Practise’ in other contexts 

The difference does not simply end there and given the wide range of English language usage in the world, knowing which uses ‘practice’ and which uses ‘practise’ is important. In general, most countries that are members of the Commonwealth use British English spellings, whereas other countries will tend to use American English.  

Countries that use ‘practice’ exclusively (American English Standard) (McArthur, 2002): 

• United States 
• The Philippines.
• Liberia 
• Micronesia 
• Palau 

Additionally, countries without English as an official language, such as Israel or Saudi Arabia, tend to prefer American English (McArthur, 2002). For writers following the UK English standard, using ‘practise’ for verbs is preferred. However, if writing for a different market, using both is recommended. 

Conclusion 

The difference between ‘practice’ and ‘practise’ is an important aspect of English spelling, particularly for those writing in British or US English. It’s important to remember:  

• ‘Practice’ is always a noun. 
• ‘Practise’ is only used as a verb in British English.
• US English always uses ‘practice.’ 

Writers, especially those following the UK English standard, should be mindful of these differences to ensure consistency and correctness in their work.  

References  

• McArthur, T. (2002). Oxford Guide to World English. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 
• Oxford English Dictionary (OED) (2025). “Practice.“ [retrieved 13th March 2025].  
• Shakespeare, W. (2001). Arden Shakespeare: Complete Works, London: A & C Black.  
• Webster, N. (1850).  An American Dictionary of the English Language: Containing the Whole Vocabulary of the First Edition. New York:  G. and C. Merriam.