What is the Difference Between Council and Counsel?

The words "council" and "counsel" sound the same, but they have different meanings and uses in sentences:

• Council: This is a noun referring to an advisory or legislative body of people. It is used to describe a group of people convened for advice or consultation, often addressing administrative or legislative issues. For example, "The council met to determine what course of action to take."
• Counsel: This term can be both a noun and a verb. As a noun, it refers to advice, instruction, or recommendation provided to someone. As a verb, it means to give advice or guidance. For example, "The lawyer counseled her client on the plea bargain," and "The professor counsels graduate students in their dissertation work."

To remember the difference, you can relate "committee" to the second "c" in "council" and the verb "advise" to the "s" in "counsel".

Comparative Table: Council vs Counsel

The difference between "council" and "counsel" lies in their meanings and usage:

Here are some examples to illustrate the difference:

• A council is a group of people who run a local area such as a town, city, or county, or who run organizations like the Arts Council or the British Council of Churches.

• Counsel can refer to advice given, such as when someone seeks counsel from their advisors.

• As a verb, to counsel someone means to give them advice about their problems.

Remember that council is always a noun, while counsel can be both a noun and a verb.