Advise

Can I replace the typical words: "Please let me know" for "Please advise"? or are there certain cases where it wouldnt be possible
Please advise👁 Smile :)

"Please advise." is used often; I like it because it's more concise.

"Please advise" is used in written business communications. You would not use it in speech.

sound shift said:

"Please advise" is used in written business communications. You would not use it in speech.

Excellent comment. I fully agree.

I don't think you can use "please advice" and "please let me know" interchangeably . In some scenarios, where you would like to know what the other person thinks, it's okay. For example, asking your mom about your wedding dress. You can say, "Mom, please advice which one should I go with?" instead of "Mom, let me know......"

If you are strictly asking for someone's input on something, you'll not say "please advice". For example, if you are asking a client's input on a report, you would say, "Please let me know any questions or comments you have on this report." You will not say "Please advice" then.

Hope i'm making sense here 👁 Smile :)

tara. said:

I don't think you can use "please advice" and "please let me know" interchangeably .

Just a note... it's "advise", not "advice". Advice is a noun. Advise is a verb.

JamesM said:

Just a note... it's "advise", not "advice". Advice is a noun. Advise is a verb.

agree with you here. Advise is a verb which means "give advice to". Thanks for pointing this out. I mess up these two a lot.

okay, now a quick question:

When I type:

Please advise me what should I do?

and

Please advice me what should I do?

microsoft word accepts both. Could you please elaborate why?

That said, I still think "please advise" and "please let me know" can't be used interchangeably all the time.

Actually, www.m-w.com gives the following definitions for "advise":

1 a : to give advice to : COUNSEL <advise her to try a drier climate> b : CAUTION, WARN <advise them of the consequences> c : RECOMMEND <advise prudence>
2 : to give information or notice to : INFORM <advise them of their rights>


The meaning of "Please advise" in a business letter conforms best to meaning 2 above, in my opinion. In other words, it can simply mean that you want to be informed of any details regarding the matter. It doesn't necessarily mean that you are asking for counsel or a recommendation, although that could be the communication you receive in response. Given that, I really do think that "please advise" and "please let me know (about this matter)" mean the same thing in a business communication.

I agree that they are not always interchangeable. "Please let me know if you will be able to attend my party on Saturday night" would sound very odd as "Please advise (regarding) your attendance at Saturday night's party". The tone would be too impersonal and formal.

As for Microsoft Word's recommendations, it has been proven time and again that the software is not a reliable test for the acceptability (or unacceptability) of a sentence when it comes to grammar. I would not rely on it at all. For example, I just typed in "I gnu ewe were rite" into Microsoft Word and received no warnings or suggested corrections. 👁 Smile :)


I'd say that both sentences are requests, not questions, and I would re-word it as "Please advise me as to what I should do." or as two sentences: "Please advise me. What should I do?"

Thanks James! Appreciate your help 👁 Smile :)

In my dictionary there's written that advise (inform)goes with the preposition "of" and advise (Give advice, suggest, recommend) with "about" and "on". Is it true?

ladybugEnglishFan said:

In my dictionary there's written that advise (inform)goes with the preposition "of" and advise (Give advice, suggest, recommend) with "about" and "on". Is it true?

That is correct.