grammar checker regarding the words "advise" and "advice"

[gchurchi]

Most people in my office in Miami are not native English speakers. Due to
the Microsoft Word 2003 grammar checker they end up saying "Please advice."
The Thesaurus defines "advise" as a verb meaning to offer advice. Why does
the grammar checker not recognize this in the simple sentence "Please
advise." Another example of this problem occurred in a list of job duties
including "Guide and advise the college administration..." The grammar
checker suggests "advice." I see this every day and feel embarrassed for our
professional staff.

Does this bother anybody else?

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[Pat Garard]

G'Day gchurchi,

I have a document with the following three lines
"
Guide and advise the college administration..

Please advise me on this matter.

Please advise.
"
Only the third line generates the problem to which you refer. It generates the
problem because this popular, and somewhat dictatorial, instruction is not
a sentence - "Please advise me." does not produce the problem.
--
Regards,
Pat Garard
Melbourne, Australia

PS:

Due to the Microsoft Word 2003 grammar checker...

Owing to the M.....

Now this IS an error that the Grammar Checker does not detect - presumably
it is a question of usage....
_______________________

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

Indeed. Word probably can't distinguish between "Advice, please" and "Please
advise," which could also be written "Advise, please."

As an aside, my small town has trash cans at frequent intervals around the
downtown area. Because it's a very "quaint" small town, these are not just
trash cans. Instead, they are waste receptables hidden inside wooden
cabinets with flowers planted on the top. A sign on the side says "WASTE
PLEASE." It always give me pause. <g>

 

[Pat Garard]

Sounds like a lovely town, Suzanne - we need more of those!

 

[Jay Freedman]

That reminds me of the signs that say "Fine for littering, $100". That
could mean that the place is fine for littering, and you'll be paid
for doing it...

--
Regards,
Jay Freedman
Microsoft Word MVP
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[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

That reminds me of another sign that appeared on a local restaurant. The
owner had taken the "NO SHOES, NO SHIRT, NO SERVICE" one step further, but
his logic got a little tangled. The sign said:

NO SHOES
NO SHIRT
NO TANK TOPS
NO SERVICE