Practice vs. Practise | Definition, Difference & Examples
Practice and practise are two different spellings of the verb meaning “train by repetition” or “engage professionally in something.”
The noun is always spelled “practice.” The spelling of the verb varies based on whether you’re writing in UK or US English:
- In UK English, “practice” (with a “c”) is the noun and “practise” (with an “s”) is the verb.
- In US English, “practice” (with a “c”) is used as both noun and verb. “Practise” (with an “s”) is never used.
If you want to be a better cook, you should practise/practice cooking more often.
Gerard’s research has major implications for clinical practice.
The medieval practice of alchemy influenced the modern field of chemistry.
The noun is always practice
Regardless of the version of English you’re using, practice (with a “c”) is always used as the noun referring to the application of an idea, a repeated exercise, or a custom.
Practice has a considerable effect on performance.
Meditation is a common religious practice.
Practising or practicing
The same regional distinction applies to the “-ing” forms of the verb. Both forms can also be used as adjectives.
- In UK English, “practising” (with an “s”) is standard.
- In US English, “practicing” (with a “c”) is correct.
Ellie is no longer a practising/practicing doctor.
Best practice or best practise
Best practice is a noun referring to a procedure that’s considered a standard in a profession or field. The plural best practices is also commonly used to refer to a set of preferred procedures.
Best practice/best practices (with a “c”) is correct in both UK and US English. “Best practises” is never correct, because “practise” is not used as a noun.
You can read more about best practices in the following chapter.
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Ryan, E. (2023, August 21). Practice vs. Practise | Definition, Difference & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved January 8, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/us-vs-uk/practise-or-practice/
