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counsel, council

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  Ed Good  —  Grammar Tips
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Lawyers are most familiar with the word counsel, meaning “advice” or “guidance.” Also, a lawyer is often referred to as a counsel. A corporation, for example, has a general counsel, the head corporate lawyer.

A council, on the other hand, is a group of people who come together for the purpose of deliberation.

Note that counsel can act as a noun or a verb:

The counsel then counseled his client.

The word council, however, never acts as a verb.

Example: Against the counsel of a good friend and former member, he chose to run for the city council.

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