Practice vs Practise: The British and American English Difference

This is not a grammar dispute; it is a spelling convention that differs across varieties of English.

In British English, practice is normally the noun and practise the verb: Speaking practice helps; I practise speaking every day. In American English, practice is standard for both noun and verb.

Use a pronunciation-proof diagnostic

The two forms sound the same, so listening will not help. In British usage, ask whether you could replace the word with another verb such as train. If yes, practise is likely. If it names the activity or professional work, use practice.

Consistency matters more than mixing prestige varieties

A British-spelling document with colour, organise and practise is coherent. An American-spelling document with color, organize and practice is coherent. Do not switch randomly inside one text.

For broader editing discipline, use the advanced self-editing checklist and verify variety-sensitive entries in a learner’s dictionary.