What is the Difference Between Practise and Practice?

The difference between "practise" and "practice" lies in their usage and context, as well as the variety of English being used. Here are the key points:

  • In British English, "practice" (with a "c") is used as a noun, while "practise" (with an "s") is used as a verb.
  • In American English, "practice" (with a "c") is used for both noun and verb.
  • The same regional distinction applies to the "ing" forms of the verb. In UK English, "practising" (with an "s") is standard, while in US English, "practicing" (with a "c") is correct.

Examples:

  • As a noun (UK English): "I work in a medical practice."
  • As a verb (UK English): "She practices playing the guitar every day."
  • As a noun (US English): "I work in a medical practice."
  • As a verb (US English): "She practices playing the guitar every day."

In both UK and US English, "best practice" (with a "c") is a noun referring to a procedure considered a standard in a profession or field, and "best practices" (with a "c") is commonly used to refer to a set of preferred procedures.

Comparative Table: Practise vs Practice

The difference between "practice" and "practise" lies in their usage and context. Here is a table summarizing the differences:

Term Usage (as per British English) Meaning
Practice (with a "c") Noun Actual application, belief, methods, or use of an idea.
Practise (with an "s") Verb A habitual or customary ritual or activity.

In UK English, "practice" (with a "c") is used as a noun, while "practise" (with an "s") is used as a verb. In US English, "practice" (with a "c") is used for both noun and verb forms. To summarize:

  • In UK English, "practice" is used as a noun (e.g., "Our usual practice is to keep a written record of all meetings").
  • In UK English, "practise" is used as a verb (e.g., "His family practised traditional Judaism").
  • In US English, "practice" is used for both noun and verb forms (e.g., "I practiced throwing and catching the ball every day").