Am I the only one who learned this in elementary school? It seems like no one knows the distinction between the two, and to Microsoft Word, practise is not even a word! Is it another one of those British/Canadian vs. American words (ex. colour vs color)?
Does anyone know what I mean?
Example:
I’m going to practise piano today.
versus
I’m going to football practice today.
It was really bugging me that my psychology professor was using practice for everything, even when practise was the correct version.
I wonder if we had the same teacher, because I learned the same thing. Practise was the verb, while practice was the noun, as you showed in your example. The teacher who taught me this British, by the way.
In practice (sorry), I don’t hold much to the rule. As a technical writer, I have to write to the standards and style required by my clients. Since most of them are either branches of American companies or companies who do a lot of business in the US, their style standards are generally American. Not only do I have to use practice as both a noun and a verb, but I also have to spell such words as color; and on occasion, have had to write check when my instincts are screaming cheque.
In my personal writing, I tend to use practice as both a noun and a verb too. Every now and then, I recall the words of my teacher, but I do it anyway.
It shouldn’t bother you. Just know that you learned the difference, and can use it appropriately.
Practise is very much a British/Canadian usage (and from what you are posting, it might be a dying usage in Canada?). It is simply not seen in the U.S.
Practice is a perfectly good verb in American English.