Best Practice or Best Practise? What’s the Difference?

Vocabulary / By

The difference between “best practice” and “best practise” is going to depend on whether you’re in the United States or in the UK (respectively). Therefore, both ways of spelling are technically correct. “Best practice” is common in the United States while “best practise” is common in the UK.

While there are many similarities between American and British English, there are also some marked differences too. But, if you plan on traveling to somewhere in either of these countries, it’s impressive if you know how to differentiate between the spellings.

What “Best Practice” or “Best Practise” Means

Whether you use “best practice” or “best practise,” it is a noun phrase that means or refers to a top tier procedure, system or methodology. This can apply to almost anything like medicine or alcohol distilling and even education or factory production.

American –ICE and the British –ISE

There are many words in American English ending in –ice that requires –ise for British English. “Practice” is one such word that necessitates this change. Other words like advice and device will also see the same change in British to advise and devise.

But, the curious thing is, other words like sacrifice, suffice, accomplice and apprentice are the same in both American and British English. Therefore, if you wish to master both versions of English, you will have to spend some time studying them on an intricate level and make some flash cards.

Examples of “Best Practice” versus “Best Practise”

To best understand the meaning of “best practice” or “best practise” for American or British English, study the examples given below.

  • American: He has the best practice of any doctor I’ve ever known.
  • British: He has the best practise of any doctor I’ve ever known.
  • American: We encourage only the best practices for our students to study and absorb the material.
  • British: We encourage only the best practises for our students to study and absorb the material.
  • American: What is the best practice to use when giving yourself a manicure at home?
  • British: What is the best practise to use when giving yourself a manicure at home?

Conclusion

Both “best practice” and “best practise” are correct in referring to a prime way, method or system in doing something. However, the –ise at the end indicates the British use of the word whereas –ice suggests American English.

 

Conor
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