Recommendation vs. Advice — What's the Difference?
By Maham Liaqat & Fiza Rafique — Updated on May 9, 2024
A recommendation suggests a specific action or choice, often backed by experience or evidence, while advice provides general guidance or opinions on handling a situation.
Difference Between Recommendation and Advice
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A recommendation specifically directs someone toward a particular decision or course of action, often citing personal experience or data. Advice, on the other hand, is more general, offering suggestions or opinions without necessarily pointing to a precise action.
Recommendations tend to focus on endorsing a product, service, or plan after evaluating its suitability. Meanwhile, advice leans toward offering helpful insights to navigate broader situations, allowing individuals to adapt it to their needs.
In professional settings, a recommendation may refer to endorsing a job candidate or business practice. Conversely, advice often involves strategic guidance, like business strategies or personal development plans.
A recommendation can often involve a comparative assessment, providing reasons why one option is superior. Advice, however, is more open-ended and not always tied to comparing alternatives.
While recommendations are usually given with a level of expertise or authority on the subject, advice might come from a peer or someone with less specialization but still aims to offer valuable guidance.
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Comparison Chart
Specificity
Highly specific
More general
Context
Often related to products or decisions
Relates to various situations
Professional Usage
Common in job references or reviews
Common in business strategy or mentorship
Comparison
Offers comparative assessments
Provides guidance without explicit comparisons
Source Expertise
Often from experts or authorities
Can come from peers or mentors
Compare with Definitions
Recommendation
Public support for a choice or course of action.
The manager gave a strong recommendation for his promotion.
Advice
Helpful suggestions on what to do.
She offered valuable advice on how to manage stress.
Recommendation
A sign of support for something or someone.
His recommendation assured the client’s trust.
Advice
Providing insights based on experience or knowledge.
Legal advice is crucial before signing contracts.
Recommendation
A suggestion to choose a particular option.
Her recommendation was to stay in the city rather than moving.
Advice
Personal view on a situation.
His advice was to reconsider the business deal.
Recommendation
A formal statement vouching for someone's abilities.
He wrote a glowing recommendation for his colleague.
Advice
Ongoing support to foster growth.
His advice played a pivotal role in my career development.
Recommendation
A favored suggestion based on evaluation.
My recommendation is to book flights in advance.
Advice
Directions for solving problems.
The technical team gave advice on resolving software issues.
Recommendation
The act of recommending.
Advice
Opinion about what could or should be done about a situation or problem; counsel.
Recommendation
Something that recommends, especially a favorable statement concerning character or qualifications.
Advice
Often advices Information communicated; news
Advices from an ambassador.
Recommendation
Something, such as a course of action, that is recommended.
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.
Recommendation
An act of recommending.
Advice
Deliberate consideration; knowledge.
Recommendation
That which is recommended.
Advice
Information or news given; intelligence
Late advices from France
Recommendation
A commendation or endorsement.
Your next employer may require a recommendation.
He made a recommendation about what food to order.
We followed the recommendation to order sushi.
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.
Recommendation
The act of recommending.
Advice
(uncountable) In commercial language, information communicated by letter; used chiefly in reference to drafts or bills of exchange
A letter of advice
Recommendation
That which recommends, or commends to favor; anything procuring, or tending to procure, a favorable reception, or to secure acceptance and adoption; as, he brought excellent recommendations.
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
Recommendation
The state of being recommended; esteem.
The burying of the dead . . . hath always been had in an extraordinary recommendation amongst the ancient.
Advice
Counseling to perform a specific legal act.
Recommendation
Something (as a course of action) that is recommeended as advisable
Advice
Counseling to perform a specific illegal act.
Recommendation
Something that recommends (or expresses commendation) of a person or thing as worthy or desirable
Advice
In aspect-oriented programming, the code whose execution is triggered when a join point is reached.
Recommendation
Any quality or characteristic that gains a person a favorable reception or acceptance or admission;
Her pleasant personality is already a recommendation
His wealth was not a passport into the exclusive circles of society
Advice
Misspelling of advise
Advice
An opinion recommended or offered, as worthy to be followed; counsel.
We may give advice, but we can not give conduct.
Advice
Deliberate consideration; knowledge.
How shall I dote on her with more advice,That thus without advice begin to love her?
Advice
Information or notice given; intelligence; as, late advices from France; - commonly in the plural.
Advice
Counseling to perform a specific illegal act.
Advice
A proposal for an appropriate course of action
Common Curiosities
Is a recommendation the same as advice?
No, a recommendation suggests a specific action, while advice provides broader guidance.
Can a recommendation include advice?
Yes, a recommendation may include advice on why a particular option is favorable.
Who typically provides recommendations?
Experts, employers, or people with authority often provide recommendations.
Are recommendations more formal than advice?
Yes, recommendations tend to be more formal, especially in professional settings.
Are recommendations unbiased?
Ideally, recommendations should be objective, but personal biases may affect them.
Is advice always actionable?
Not necessarily; advice is often broader and might require adaptation to be actionable.
What’s the main goal of advice?
To offer guidance that helps people make informed decisions in various situations.
How do you handle conflicting recommendations and advice?
Evaluate their sources, relevance to your situation, and underlying reasoning before choosing.
Are recommendations always based on data or evidence?
Often they are, but some recommendations may be based on personal experience alone.
Can a recommendation be negative?
Yes, it can suggest avoiding a particular option or course of action.
Is it polite to ask for advice or recommendations?
Yes, asking shows respect for the other person's knowledge or experience.
Do recommendations need to be followed strictly?
No, but they are often backed by expertise or experience, which adds weight to them.
Does advice imply authority?
Not always; advice can come from friends or peers without formal authority.
Can advice contradict recommendations?
Yes, advice might not always align with recommendations due to differing perspectives.
Which is more effective: advice or recommendations?
Effectiveness depends on context; specific recommendations can be more impactful in certain cases, while general advice provides flexible guidance.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
