Practice and Practise are two words that are easily confused because of the difference in spelling.
In American English, practice is always spelled with a ‘c’. However, in British English, both spellings are acceptable but each serves a different purpose.
[To read about American and British English in detail, read British English versus American English]
Practise v/s Practice
As I said, both spellings have different functions in British and other non-American versions of English. As a result, it becomes difficult for the user to judge whether to use practice or practise.
It is important to take into consideration what function the word serves in the sentence it is being used:
- If it is a verb, use practise.
- If it is a noun, use practice.
For example: We say that doctors practise medicine. (verb)
But the profession of a doctor is called as practice. (noun)
More examples:
- Sameer practices football every day. (American)
Sameer practises football every day. (British)
- I do not have a laptop to practice typing on. (American)
I do not have a laptop to practise typing on. (British)
Remember: Language is ever-evolving and hence these rules are subject to change. This is evident from the changing trend in Canadian English where practice (with a C) plays the role of a noun as well as a verb now.
Hope this was of help to you all. Be sure to use the correct spelling the next time you use this word!