Advisor vs. Adviser

[Dr. Old Bill]

It's quiet around these parts, so here's an irreverent question for those who care to chime in. Do you prefer to use the spelling of "advisor" or "adviser"...and why? I'm legitimately curious, as I see it both ways, probably close to a 50/50 split (with perhaps a slight edge to "advisor").

 

Which do you use? How did you come to start using that particular spelling? Inquiring minds...

[unræd]

I like "advisor," because you can secretly pronounce it like "advizoar" in your head--which makes them sound like a crusading, world-defending robot.

 

But different strokes, right?

[Dr. Old Bill]

I'm firmly in the "advisor" camp as well...but now I have a whole new reason. World-defending robot. I like it!

[TakeruK]

I like advisor. But I occasionally use adviser. 

 

For one reason or another, I tend to use "advisor" when it's a title like our "Thesis Advisor", or "Financial Advisor" or when referring to people in these positions. I think "adviser" for just the general word for someone who advises? 

 

But now I will also think robot defender when I use "advisor"!

[Munashi]

I prefer "advisor" personally, but I've been known to flip flop arbitrarily.

[unræd]

I like advisor. But I occasionally use adviser. 

 

For one reason or another, I tend to use "advisor" when it's a title like our "Thesis Advisor", or "Financial Advisor" or when referring to people in these positions. I think "adviser" for just the general word for someone who advises? 

 

But now I will also think robot defender when I use "advisor"!

 

I tend to make the exact same distinction, which is interesting--there's no real basis for it ("adviser" is older) aside from the fact that the "-or" spelling looks more distinct from the usual way we form agent nouns in English, so I think I read it as fancy and special and Title-y whereas the other one seems like, as you say, just someone who advises. But I'd love to hear from some of the linguists on the board!

 

(Personally, I'd like to see "advicer" enter the language. Yeah, it's duplicative, same root, etc etc etc, but calling someone who gives you advice--especially of the "what should I do about the schmuckball I'm dating?" kind--an "adviser/-or" seems weirdly formal, like you're drawing up white papers and memoranda instead of grabbing a cup of coffee.)

Edited July 2, 2015 by unræd

[empress-marmot]

I like adviser. Like others pointed out, advisor sounds too formal. And it rhymes with 'incisor.' And I don't want to think about my advisor's incisors. 

 

Hence, adviser. 

[1Q84]

I like "advisor," because you can secretly pronounce it like "advizoar" in your head--which makes them sound like a crusading, world-defending robot.

 

But different strokes, right?

 

Or advizer and just imagine that he or she is your own personal Dumbledore.

[unræd]

Or advizer and just imagine that he or she is your own personal Dumbledore.

 

Or advizier, and that you're in a 10th century 'Abbasid court.

[shinigamiasuka]

I find "advisor" more commonly used than "adviser". Or maybe that's sort of my subconscious confirmation bias working... That said, "advisor" isn't recognised by Chrome; it isn't added to its spell-check dictionary.

 

Just googled to find out the peeps on Grammarist seem to echo TakeruK's idea of the distinction between the two.

[unræd]

I find "advisor" more commonly used than "adviser". Or maybe that's sort of my subconscious confirmation bias working... 

 

Same here, but I think it is just my confirmation bias. I would have sworn to the skies that "advisor" was both more commonly used and older, and was shocked to find that neither was the case.

[xolo]

This is a hilarious thread. I didn't even know there were two spellings. I thought it was only advisor. I'm glad I don't usually correct other people's grammar. All I can say is that Spanish is a lot simpler. Well, not always.

[Dr. Old Bill]

 All I can say is that Spanish is a lot simpler. Well, not always.

 

Porque? Por que!