Main Difference – Practise vs. Practice
Practise and practice are a word pair that often confuses many English learners. Many of you might already know that the difference between practise and practice lies in their grammatical function, i.e. one is a verb and the other is a noun. But most of us have trouble identifying which is which. This is why we are going to discuss the difference between Practice and Practise in this article. The main difference between practise and practice is that practise is a verb while practice is a noun. However, this difference only exists in British English. In American English, practice is used for both noun and verb.
Practise – Meaning and Usage
In British English, the word practise is used as a noun; in American English practise is not much used. Practise can refer to,
Perform an activity or exercise a skill constantly or habitually in order to acquire, improve or maintain proficiency in it
He should practise singing if he is serious about entering this competition.
If you practise regularly, your language skills will improve.
They can win that match if they practise well.
Carry out or perform a particular activity, method, or custom habitually or regularly
Though this ritual is no longer practised, it is still considered to be a major part of their sub-culture.
You should preach what you practise.
Engaged in a certain profession or occupation
After the war, he began to practise as a doctor.
Practice – Meaning and Usage
In British English, practice is used as a noun, but in American English it is used both as a noun and a verb. Practice can refer to
The habitual or accepted procedure or way of doing something
The practice of polygamy was abolished in 1902.
This practice has been continued for so long that no one questioned its origins.
Repeated exercise in or performance of an activity or skill in order to acquire or maintain expertise in it
With practice, your signing skills will improve.
Practice makes perfect.
Carrying out of a profession or a premise of a profession, especially that of a lawyer or a doctor.
He gave up his medical practice and joined the air force.
Dr. Anderson’s practice was in London.
The actual application or use of an idea, belief, method or theory.
Though her proposal was flawless in theory, several issued came up when it was put into practice.
His idea was put into practice, but it brought no positive results.
Difference Between Practise and Practice
Main Meaning
Practise is performing an activity repeatedly in order to gain a proficiency in it.
Practice is the repetitive exercise in or performance of an activity or skill in order to acquire or maintain proficiency in it.
British English
Practise is the verb.
Practice is the noun.
American English
Practise is not much used.
Practice is both noun and verb.
Reference:
practice. Oxford Dictionaries. Oxford University Press, n.d. Web. 09 November 2015.
Image Courtesy:
“Miami Heat practice at Aderholt Fitness Center 2010-09-28 2” by SRA Sheila deVera – (Public Domain) via Wikimedia Commons
“US Navy 080204-N-0807W-084 A member of the …..” by U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Joshua J. Wahl – (Public Domain) via Commons
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