Is It Practise or Practice? | Meaning, Spelling & Examples
Practise and practice are two spellings of the same verb meaning “engage in something professionally” or “train by repetition.” The spelling depends on whether you’re using American or British English.
Practice is also used as a noun meaning “training” or “the application of a method.” It can also be used to refer to the business of a lawyer or doctor. The noun is always spelled with a “c.”
- In British English, “practise” is used as a verb and “practice” as a noun.
- In American English, “practice” is used as both the verb and noun. “Practise” is never correct.
A QuillBot grammar check can help you use either American or British English consistently.
I’m sure you’ll learn how to crochet. You just have to practise/practice.
I’ll see you tomorrow at baseball practice
Leonard spends 50 hours a week at his doctor’s practice in Boston.
Practice as a noun
As a noun, practice is always spelled with a “c,” regardless of what type of English you’re using. It can refer to a custom, application of a theory or method, a repeated exercise, or a doctor’s or lawyer’s business.
It’s common practice to wash your face, arms, and feet before entering a mosque.
It’s the final practice before the big exam tomorrow.
I haven’t visited a doctor’s practice in years!
Practising or practicing
The spelling difference for the verb practise or practice carries over to the present participle forms (ending in the suffix “-ing”).
- In British English, “practising” is standard.
- In American English, “practicing” is correct.
I’m sure you’ll ace your exam. You’ve been practising/practicing for weeks.
I’m a practising/practicing doctor in a small town in Indiana.
Best practise or best practice
Best practice is a compound noun that consists of an adjective (“best”) and a noun (“practice”). It refers to a set of rules that’s considered the golden standard in a field. The plural noun form is best practices.
Best practice or best practices is always spelled with a “c,” because “practice” is used as a noun. It’s never spelled with an “s.”
The organization encourages employees to share best practices.
Main differences between American and British English
American and British English are very similar, but there are a few main differences in spelling. Some differences are:
| Difference | Rule | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| -or vs -our | In American English, many Latin-derived words end in -or. | Behavior or behaviour Color or colour Favor or favour Flavor or flavour Favorite or favourite Honor or honour Humor or humour Labor or labour Neighbor or neighbour |
| In British English, these same words end in -our. | ||
| -er vs -re | In American English, some French, Latin, or Greek words end in -er. | Center or centre Fiber or fibre Theater or theatre |
| In British English, these same words end in -re. | ||
| -ize vs -ise | In American English, many Greek-derived words end in -yze or -ize. | Analyze or analyse Organization or organisation Realize or realise Recognize or recognise |
| In British English, these words end in -yse or -ise. | ||
| -ed vs -t | In American English, most verbs are regular and form their past tense with the suffix -ed. | Burned or burnt Dreamed or dreamt Kneeled or knelt Learned or learnt Smelled or smelt Spelled or spelt Spilled or spilt |
| In British English, some of these verbs are irregular and form their past tense with the suffix -t. | ||
| Single vs double consonant | In American English, many words are spelled with a single consonant. | Buses or busses Canceled or cancelled Counselor or counsellor Focused or focussed Labeled or labelled Modeling or modelling Traveling or travelling |
| In British English, these same words are often spelled with a double consonant. | ||
| Dropping vs retaining the “e” | In American English, “e” is often dropped when forming a noun from a verb | Acknowledgment or acknowledgement Aging or ageing Judgment or judgement |
| In British English, the “e” is often retained. | ||
| Different verb and noun spellings | In American English, most words have identical verb and noun spellings. | License or licence Practice or practise |
| In British English, some words have different spellings for the verb and noun forms. | ||
| Other spelling differences | There are many other spelling differences between the two English variants. | Airplane or aeroplane Aluminum or aluminium Check or cheque Cozy or cosy Defense or defence Dependent or dependant Enrollment or enrolment Fulfil or fulfill Gray or grey Jewelry or jewellery Karat or carat Mold or mould Offense or offence Pajamas or pyjamas Program or programme Skeptical or sceptical Tire or tyre |
Other interesting articles
If you want to know more about job applications, research, or idioms, make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.
Job applications
Research
Frequently asked questions about practise or practice
- Is it to practice or to practise?
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Practice and practise have different uses in American and British English.
- In British English, “practice” is used as a noun and “practise” as a verb.
- In American English, “practice” is used for both the noun and verb.
“To practice” is the infinitive form. In British English, you’d use to practise (with an “s”), and in American English, you’d use to practice (with a “c”). A QuillBot grammar check can help you use one type of English consistently.
- Is it exam practice or exam practise?
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Practice and practise have different uses in American and British English. - In British English, “practice” is used as a noun and “practise” as a verb.
- In American English, “practice” is used for both the noun and verb.
“Practice” in “exam practice” is a noun, so you should use exam practice in both American and British English.
It’s important to choose one type of English and use it consistently. The QuillBot Grammar Checker can help you with this.11:45
THREE:
Practice and practise have different uses in American and British English.- In British English, “practice” is used as a noun and “practise” as a verb.
- In American English, “practice” is used for both the noun and verb.
“Practice” in “choir practice” is a noun, so you should use choir practice in both American and British English.
It’s important to choose one type of English and use it consistently. The QuillBot Grammar Checker can help you with this. - Is it choir practise or practice?
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Practice and practise have different uses in American and British English.
- In British English, “practice” is used as a noun and “practise” as a verb.
- In American English, “practice” is used for both the noun and verb.
“Practice” in “choir practice” is a noun, so you should use choir practice in both American and British English.
It’s important to choose one type of English and use it consistently. The QuillBot Grammar Checker can help you with this.
