Advice vs Suggestion
Understanding the difference between advice and suggestion is not difficult if you pay attention to the precise meanings of each word. However, these two words in the English language are often confused due to the similarity in their meanings. There is a distinction between the two words, which can be understood by examining the context in which a person gives advice or makes a suggestion. Suggestion can result from briefly considering things and can be made by only thinking about the passing moment. In contrast, advice is made by considering not only the present but also the past and the future. A person does not give advice to someone in a hurry.
What does Advice mean?
The word advice is used to mean ‘counsel’, as in the sentences below:
– He gave advice to his brother.
– The advice given by him was followed diligently.
In both sentences, the word advice is used to mean ‘counsel’. In the first sentence, the idea is that he counseled his brother. In the second sentence, the idea is that the counsel given by him was followed meticulously. Since advice is counsel, it has more value. It is presented by someone with experience. The person who gives advice to someone has also considered all the facts present and has considered the consequences of following or not following the advice. You can choose not to follow advice given to you. However, advice is generally given to be followed.
Moreover, the word advice is used as a noun, as in the example:
– He received a piece of advice from his teacher.
It is important to note that the verb form of the word ‘advice’ is ‘advise’. These two are homophones, meaning they sound the same but have different spellings.
What does Suggestion mean?
The word suggestion is used to mean ‘giving an idea’, as in the sentences below:
– He suggested that it could be done in this way.
– She gave a suggestion for the easy functioning of the club.
In both sentences, the word suggestion is used to mean ‘giving an idea’. In the first sentence, the idea is that he gave an idea to do a particular task in a certain way. In the second sentence, the idea is that she gave an idea for easily running a club.
The word suggestion is also used as a noun, as in the example:
– I need your suggestion in this case.
It is important to note that the verb form of the word ‘suggestion’ is ‘suggest’. Since a suggestion is just an idea someone has about something, no one expects you to follow every suggestion that comes your way. You can take time to consider and follow it only if it fits you too.
Key Takeaways
- The word advice is used in the sense of ‘counsel’, whereas the word suggestion is used in the sense of ‘giving an idea’.
- Both advice and suggestion are nouns, and their verb forms are ‘advise’ and ‘suggest’, respectively.
- Advice is given based on experience and considering the situation, while a suggestion is given at the moment by letting someone know what you think, which may or may not be based on experience.
