Sound-alike words
Council vs. Counsel
Council is a noun for a group of people who meet to advise or make decisions. Counsel means advice or to give advice, and it can also mean a lawyer. The city council votes; a mentor counsels you.
| Word | Part of speech | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| council | noun | a group of people chosen to make rules, give advice or run something |
| counsel | noun | advice, or a lawyer who gives legal advice and speaks for someone in court |
| verb | to give advice, especially professional advice |
Council
noun: a group of people chosen to make rules, give advice or run something
- The student council planned the spring dance.
- The town council approved a new bike lane.
Counsel
noun: advice, or a lawyer who gives legal advice and speaks for someone in court
- She asked her grandfather for counsel before changing careers.
- The company's counsel reviewed the contract line by line.
verb: to give advice, especially professional advice
- The advisor counsels students on choosing a major.
- Doctors counseled him to rest for a week.
How to remember the difference
Council has the c of committee and city: it is a group. Counsel has the s of suggest: it is advice, or the person giving it.
Good to know
A member of a council is a councilor, while a person who gives advice is a counselor. A camp counselor and a school counselor both use the counsel spelling.
Spot the mistake
The lawyer gave her client wise
councilcounsel about the offer.Correct: The lawyer gave her client wise counsel about the offer.
She plans to run for city
counselcouncil next year.Correct: She plans to run for city council next year.
Check yourself
Pick the word that fits each sentence.
1. The neighborhood meets on the first Monday of each month.
Answer: council. This is a group of people who meet and decide things, so council fits.
2. The coach will the new players on healthy eating.
Answer: counsel. The word is a verb meaning to give advice, which is counsel.