This one has come up a few times and so I am sure there are a few people out there who are confused when trying to choose between using advisor or adviser.
So, which is it to be? I think people may think that advisor is more formal (even posher) in some ways, and it’s definitely used more in official documents and marketing-ese.
But in reality, this is another pair that means exactly the same. Adviser or advisor: just pick one!
What I would say (and what I always say), is be consistent. If you introduce a mortgage advisor on page 1, make sure they haven’t changed into a mortgage adviser by page 4!
Oh: but it’s always advisory (not advisery, which isn’t a word) when you’re talking about having the power to make recommendations (but not to enforce them, interestingly). “The panel is operating in an advisory capacity and cannot force the employees to wear baseball caps”.
I personally prefer advisor. What do you think?
You can find more troublesome pairs here and the index to them all so far is here.
LibroEditing proofreading, editing, transcription, localisation 
Gill Rose
May 7, 2012 at 2:09 pm
Adviser all the way!
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Liz at Libro
May 7, 2012 at 7:18 pm
Interesting – I always find that looks somehow “wrong” when I use it. But I know you’re consistent, anyway!!
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Pauline
June 28, 2012 at 12:15 pm
I would have plumped for ‘advisor’ every time, until I got a job managing an advice service, where I found, somewhat to my alarm, that I employed advisers. It would have been churlish of me to insist on everyone changing to suit me, so I sighed and got on with it. It took me only about five years to get used to it. 🙂
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Liz at Libro
June 29, 2012 at 5:42 am
As long as you’re consistent … !
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