Tip vs. Advice: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
A tip is a specific, practical suggestion, while advice is more general guidance or recommendations.
Key Differences
A tip usually refers to a small, practical piece of advice, often based on personal experience or specialized knowledge, and is generally aimed at helping someone perform a specific task more effectively. On the other hand, advice is broader in scope, offering guidance or recommendations that are more general and can apply to various aspects of life or work.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 07, 2023
Tips are often brief and to the point, providing a quick solution or trick that might not be obvious. They are usually easy to implement and are specific to a particular situation. Advice, however, tends to be more comprehensive, involving deeper insights or wisdom, and often requires more thought and consideration to apply.
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Dec 07, 2023
In terms of context, a tip is something you might receive in a casual conversation or find in a "how-to" article, focusing on immediate utility. Advice is often sought in more complex situations where a person needs guidance on choices or decisions, potentially having long-term implications.
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Dec 07, 2023
The source of a tip is usually someone with specific experience or expertise in a narrow field, like a chef giving a cooking tip. Advice, however, can come from anyone regardless of their expertise, as it often encompasses broader life experiences and wisdom.
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Dec 07, 2023
The tone and intention behind tips and advice can also differ. A tip is often shared as a friendly gesture to enhance efficiency or effectiveness, whereas advice is given with the intent of guiding someone, often in personal or professional development.
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Dec 07, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Source
Often from someone with specific expertise
Can be from anyone, not necessarily an expert
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Dec 07, 2023
Intent
To improve efficiency or effectiveness in a task
To guide or influence decisions and choices
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Dec 07, 2023
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Tip and Advice Definitions
Tip
A gratuity given for services.
I left a generous tip for the excellent service at the restaurant.
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Dec 07, 2023
Advice
Opinion about what could or should be done.
I took his advice and applied for the job.
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Dec 07, 2023
Advice
A proposal for an appropriate course of action.
Following the doctor's advice, he started a healthier diet.
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Dec 07, 2023
Tip
A piece or an attachment, such as a cap or ferrule, meant to be fitted to the end of something else
The barbed tip of a harpoon.
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Oct 19, 2023
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Advice
Guidance or recommendations concerning prudent future action.
His advice on investments was invaluable.
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Dec 07, 2023
Advice
Suggestions for what might be done.
She sought advice on how to handle the situation.
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Dec 07, 2023
Advice
Counsel given informally.
She gave me some good advice on time management.
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Dec 07, 2023
Tip
Chiefly British An area or a place for dumping something, such as rubbish.
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Oct 19, 2023
Advice
Opinion about what could or should be done about a situation or problem; counsel.
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Oct 19, 2023
Advice
Often advices Information communicated; news
Advices from an ambassador.
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Oct 19, 2023
Advice
(uncountable) An opinion offered to guide behavior in an effort to be helpful.
She was offered various pieces of advice on what to do with her new-found wealth.
On the advice of her doctor, Mary cut down on her carbohydrates.
I have some useful advice to give you.
Sushil never took the advice of his parents, but still became rich.
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Oct 19, 2023
Tip
A small sum of money given to someone for performing a service; a gratuity.
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Oct 19, 2023
Tip
A piece of confidential, advance, or inside information
Got a tip on the next race.
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Oct 19, 2023
Advice
(countable) In language about financial transactions executed by formal documents, an advisory document.
An advice of an incoming settlement payment order may be given to an off-line receiving bank.
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Oct 19, 2023
Advice
(uncountable) In commercial language, information communicated by letter; used chiefly in reference to drafts or bills of exchange
A letter of advice
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Oct 19, 2023
Advice
A communication providing information, such as how an uncertain area of law might apply to possible future actions
An advice issued by a Monitoring Committee could be applicable in a Dutch court
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Oct 19, 2023
Tip
To dye the ends of (hair or fur) in order to blend or improve appearance.
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Oct 19, 2023
Tip
To push or knock over; overturn or topple
Bumped the table and tipped a vase.
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Oct 19, 2023
Advice
In aspect-oriented programming, the code whose execution is triggered when a join point is reached.
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Oct 19, 2023
Tip
To move to a slanting position; tilt
Tipped the rearview mirror slightly downward.
A weight that tipped the balance.
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Oct 19, 2023
Advice
An opinion recommended or offered, as worthy to be followed; counsel.
We may give advice, but we can not give conduct.
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Oct 19, 2023
Advice
Deliberate consideration; knowledge.
How shall I dote on her with more advice,That thus without advice begin to love her?
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Oct 19, 2023
Advice
Information or notice given; intelligence; as, late advices from France; - commonly in the plural.
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Oct 19, 2023
Tip
(Baseball) To hit (a pitched ball) with the side of the bat so that it glances off.
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Oct 19, 2023
Tip
(Sports) To tap or deflect (a ball or puck, for example), especially in scoring.
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Oct 19, 2023
Tip
To provide with a piece of confidential, advance, or inside information
A disgruntled gang member who tipped the police to the planned robbery.
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Oct 19, 2023
Tip
The extreme end of something, especially when pointed; e.g. the sharp end of a pencil.
The tip of one's nose
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Oct 19, 2023
Tip
A piece of metal, fabric or other material used to cover the top of something for protection, utility or decoration.
A tip for an umbrella, a shoe, a gas burner, etc.
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Oct 19, 2023
Tip
A small piece of meat.
Chicken tips over rice, pork tips, marinated alligator tips
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Oct 19, 2023
Tip
A thin, boarded brush made of camel's hair, used by gilders in lifting gold leaf.
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Oct 19, 2023
Tip
An area or a place for dumping something, such as rubbish or refuse, as from a mine; a heap (see tipple); a dump.
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Oct 19, 2023
Tip
A gratuity; a small amount of money left for a bartender, waiter, taxi driver or other servant as a token of appreciation.
Workers in the American service industry usually depend on tips to even make minimum wage.
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Oct 19, 2023
Tip
A piece of private or secret information, especially imparted by someone with expert knowledge about sporting odds, business performance etc.
Hot stock tips
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Oct 19, 2023
Tip
(ergative) (To cause) to be, or come to be, in a tilted or sloping position; (to cause) to become unbalanced.
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Oct 19, 2023
Tip
To pour a libation or a liquid from a container, particularly from a forty of malt liquor.
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Oct 19, 2023
Tip
(transitive) To deflect with one′s fingers, especially one′s fingertips.
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Oct 19, 2023
Tip
To give a small gratuity to, especially to an employee of someone who provides a service.
You should always tip your waiter in the United States and most third world countries.
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Oct 19, 2023
Tip
To give a piece of private information to; to inform (someone) of a clue, secret knowledge, etc.
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Oct 19, 2023
Tip
The point or extremity of anything; a pointed or somewhat sharply rounded end; the end; as, the tip of the finger; the tip of a spear.
To the very tip of the nose.
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Oct 19, 2023
Tip
An end piece or part; a piece, as a cap, nozzle, ferrule, or point, applied to the extreme end of anything; as, a tip for an umbrella, a shoe, a gas burner, etc.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Tip
A thin, boarded brush made of camel's hair, used by gilders in lifting gold leaf.
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Oct 19, 2023
Tip
A hint, or secret intimation, as to the chances in a horse race, or the like.
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Oct 19, 2023
Tip
To form a point upon; to cover the tip, top, or end of; as, to tip anything with gold or silver.
With truncheon tipped with iron head.
Tipped with jet,Fair ermines spotless as the snows they press.
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Oct 19, 2023
Tip
To bestow a gift, or douceur, upon; to give a present to; as, to tip a servant.
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Oct 19, 2023
Tip
To lower one end of, or to throw upon the end; to tilt; as, to tip a cask; to tip a cart.
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Oct 19, 2023
Tip
A relatively small amount of money given for services rendered (as by a waiter)
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Oct 19, 2023
Tip
An indication of potential opportunity;
He got a tip on the stock market
A good lead for a job
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Oct 19, 2023
Tip
The top point of a mountain or hill;
The view from the peak was magnificent
They clambered to the summit of Monadnock
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Oct 19, 2023
Tip
Give a tip or gratuity to in return for a service, beyond the agreed-on compensation;
Remember to tip the waiter
Fee the steward
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Oct 19, 2023
Tip
To incline or bend from a vertical position;
She leaned over the banister
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Oct 19, 2023
Tip
Give insider information or advise to;
He tipped off the police about the terrorist plot
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Oct 19, 2023
Tip
A small, useful piece of information or advice.
A helpful tip for baking is to measure your ingredients accurately.
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Dec 07, 2023
Tip
A secret or insider knowledge.
He gave me a tip about the upcoming product launch.
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Dec 07, 2023
Tip
A piece of advice in a specific field.
Her gardening tips helped my plants thrive.
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Dec 07, 2023
Tip
A warning or caution.
The guide gave us a tip to avoid certain areas at night for safety.
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Dec 07, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
What is a tip?
A specific, practical suggestion for a particular situation.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 07, 2023
What is advice?
General guidance or recommendations on a broader range of topics.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 07, 2023
Can a tip be considered advice?
Yes, a tip can be a form of advice, but it's usually more specific.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 07, 2023
Can anyone give a tip?
Yes, especially if they have specific knowledge or experience in that area.
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Dec 07, 2023
Can a tip be irrelevant?
Yes, if it doesn't apply to the specific situation or need.
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Dec 07, 2023
How do you know if advice is good?
Good advice often comes from credible sources and aligns with your values and circumstances.
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Dec 07, 2023
Should advice always be followed?
Not necessarily; it should be evaluated based on its applicability to your situation.
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Dec 07, 2023
What makes good advice?
Good advice is thoughtful, considerate, and appropriate for the situation.
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Dec 07, 2023
Are tips always practical?
Typically, yes, tips are meant to offer practical solutions.
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Dec 07, 2023
What's an example of advice?
"Consider saving a portion of your income for emergencies."
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Dec 07, 2023
Can a tip be a life hack?
Yes, many tips are essentially life hacks for easier or better ways to do things.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 07, 2023
Are all forms of advice beneficial?
No, advice can sometimes be misguided or unsuitable.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 07, 2023
Is it okay to ignore a tip?
Yes, if it's not applicable or useful in your situation.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 07, 2023
Can tips and advice be unsolicited?
Yes, both can be offered without being asked for.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 07, 2023
How is a tip different from a recommendation?
A tip is usually more specific and practical, while a recommendation is broader.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 07, 2023
Is advice always serious?
Not always; it can also be light-hearted, depending on the context.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 07, 2023
What's an example of a tip?
"Add a pinch of salt to your coffee to enhance its flavor."
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Dec 07, 2023
Can a tip change over time?
Yes, as situations or technologies evolve, tips can become outdated.
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Dec 07, 2023
How do you give good advice?
By understanding the person's situation, being empathetic, and providing thoughtful insights.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 07, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.