"Council" is a governing group or committee; "counsel" is advice, guidance, or a lawyer.
A body of people elected or appointed to govern or advise. Has no verb form.
The city council approved the new housing development plan last night.
She was elected to the student council and immediately proposed new policies.
The UN Security Council held an emergency session to address the crisis.
Advice or guidance (noun). Also: a lawyer or legal advisor. As a verb: to advise.
She sought the counsel of a financial advisor before making the investment.
The defendant's counsel argued that the evidence was inadmissible.
The therapist counseled the family through a very difficult transition.
Common mistake
Writing "legal council" when you mean "legal counsel" (a lawyer or legal advisor) is very common even in formal documents. "Council" is always a group of people. "Counsel" is advice or the advisor. Also: "counsel" can be a verb ("to counsel someone"), while "council" never can.
Trick to remember it
CouncIL ends in IL — think of a group meeting in a haLL. CounseL ends in L — think of Legal or Lawyer. Simple rule: group of decision-making people — council. Advice/guidance/lawyer — counsel.
Quick rule
Council = group, committee, governing body (collective of people). Counsel = advice, advisor, lawyer (also a verb: to advise).
Did you know?
"General counsel" is the title of a company's chief lawyer — not "general council". This error appears so frequently in corporate documents that some consider it one of the most costly vocabulary mistakes in the business world.
Exercise 1 · Pick the right one
The city _____ voted unanimously to ban single-use plastics in all local restaurants.
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
The company's legal _____ advised against signing the contract without further review.
Exercise 3 · Form the word
Council = group, committee, governing body (collective of people). Counsel = advice, advisor, lawyer (also a verb: to advise).
Writing "legal council" when you mean "legal counsel" (a lawyer or legal advisor) is very common even in formal documents. "Council" is always a group of people. "Counsel" is advice or the advisor. Also: "counsel" can be a verb ("to counsel someone"), while "council" never can.
CouncIL ends in IL — think of a group meeting in a haLL. CounseL ends in L — think of Legal or Lawyer. Simple rule: group of decision-making people — council. Advice/guidance/lawyer — counsel.
Bryan López
Founder of SpeakUP Academy