Experience has shown that word that sounds the same as another word but is different in spelling and/or meaning, often constitute a nightmare, particularly for those whose English is a second language or learners trying to measure up and so frequently fall on the wrong side or fail to distinguish between the two. This is especially noticeable in the written than spoken English. But then, the regular writer, the journalist or repoter is not spared when it has to do with getting the spelling right either. The confusion persists. Homophones are words that sound the same but are spelt and meant different things altogether.
There are many examples I can give here to illustrate what I mean. Sample these: Bear and Bare, Be and Bee, Sea and See, Ship and Sheep, Steel and Steal, and so on. These are elementary homophones we all know aside from the complex ones the journalists bandied about that have become, what I may call, an albatross to the writer day in day out in the practice of his or her trade. We see them but sometimes ignore them as irrelevant so long as the point we want to make is understood. But they matter a great deal and so should not be taken for granted if we want to achieve perfection in communicating the language.
The most common of these homophones we engaged at regular intervals are the words “Advice” and “Advise” that adorns our newspaper pages every other day, including the Catholic Herald newspaper. We sometimes, figuratively speaking, tend to oscillate between the two words to pin down the right one to fit into the message we pass across to the reading audience. I would rather say we have always been careful to get it right, slippery though it may look.
What separates the two words “Advice” and “Advise” as they sound the same but meaning different things? Perhaps one may say the letter “c” and the letter “s”, yes, but there is more to it. One is a noun and the other a verb. The noun “Advice,” according to the 21st Century Chambers dictionary, tilts toward suggestions or opinions given to someone about what they should do in a particular situation. In
business, it could also be an official note about a transaction e.t.c. Conversely, the verb “Advise,” to give advice to someone, a friend or a neighbour as the case may be. It goes further to say to recommend something- usually advise someone of something, to inform them about it. To act as adviser to someone. To elaborate more on this, “Advice,” take advice or to ask someone for an opinion about what one should do, to act on someone’s advice. We are also familiar with advice note in merchandising. It could also be a document sent by a supplier of goods to a buyer informing him or her that the goods ordered have been despatched. Similarly, using the verb “Advise,” one can be “well-advised” or “ill-ad
vised” to do the right or wrong thing as in a compound sentence. Advisedly- after a careful thought; on purpose. Adviser or Advisor- someone who advises. For instance, “he was appointed on advisory capacity” to give advice. One can correctly write “I took his advice calmly in order to keep the peace.” “Seek ye the kingdom of God first and other things shall be added unto you- Bishop of Sokoto advises” Go for the ebooks, Reporting for Radio and Television: A Pratical Guide, English for Communicators: Pitfalls and Blind Spots, The General Overseer- god in the Holy Temple. Click here https://paystack.com/pay/efcbook, https://paystack.com/pay/eminemcom, https://paystack.con/pay/over. Pay and download
