What is difference between practice and practise
by Yogi P - October 21, 2023
Difference between practice and practise | Practice vs Practise
Are you confounded while trying to choose between practice and practise? If so, you’re not alone. Many English learners experience such confusion as both words appear to convey a similar sense.
The truth is that, while their pronunciation is essentially the same, they have different meanings and usages.
Practice
Practice is a noun that means ‘the process of repeating something’, ‘the action of performing an activity or skill’, or ‘conduct as it affects others’. As a verb, it means ‘to carry out or perform repeatedly in order to acquire or polish a skill’ or ‘to learn by doing’.
For instance, one can practice playing an instrument, practicing sports, or practicing a profession.
Practise
Practise is a verb that means ‘to do something often, usually in order to become better at it’, ‘repeatedly practice in order to acquire a skill’, or to ‘put knowledge to use by performing’.
For example: I practise tennis, I practise taking photos, or I practise my guitar.
Table Summarising the Difference between Practice and Practise
| Word | Practice | Practise |
| Meaning | Noun/Verb | Verb |
| Usage | Carrying out or performing repeatedly in order to acquire or polish a skill | Doing something often, usually in order to become better at it |
| Examples | I’m practicing my singing skills. | I practise surfing every weekend. |
Difference between Practice and Practise – Meaning and Usage
When used as a noun, practice refers to an exercise or activity, or a ‘habit of doing something’. On the other hand, when used as a verb, practice and practise have essentially the same meaning, namely, to ‘repeat an activity often’ in order to become skilled or proficient.
Although, in casual contexts, using one or the other is more a matter of regional preference than anything else.
Examples of Difference between Practice and Practise
Here are sample sentences illustrating the proper usage of practice and practise:
- I have been practicing for the piano recital for quite a few weeks now.
- My father practices law in this town.
- I practised ballet during my childhood.
- He practises yoga all year round.
Overview of Practice vs Practise
| Aspect | Practice (Noun) | Practise (Verb) |
|---|---|---|
| Part of Speech | Noun, used to refer to an activity, profession, or the application of a skill or knowledge | Verb, used to describe the act of engaging in an activity or the act of repeating an action to improve a skill |
| Example | Her piano practice is paying off. | She practices the piano every day. |
| Usage | Used as a noun to describe an activity or field of work, such as medical practice or legal practice | Used as a verb to describe the action of doing something regularly or repeatedly to improve or develop a skill or knowledge |
| Variations | “Practice” is the standard American English spelling for both noun and verb forms | “Practise” is the British English spelling for the verb form, and “practice” is used for the noun form in British English |
| Location | Commonly used in American English. | Commonly used in British English. |
| Synonyms | Exercise, drill, performance, profession | Train, rehearse, repeat, do, engage in |
Activity to Enhance Understanding
To better understand the differences between practice and practise, try the following activity. Whenever you come across a sentence in which both words appear, carefully analyze the surrounding context to determine which of the two words is most appropriate.
Conclusion
We hope this article has helped you understand the distinctions between practice and practise. As outlined, practice is usually utilized as a noun and practise as a verb. Moreover, context is of utmost importance when using either of these words.
By practicing the activity mentioned, you can become more confident in your usage of practice and practise.
