ADVISING versus WARNING

Advising

1. ‘advise’

You can use the word directly in sentences. Note that advising is stronger than suggesting/recommending, and not only is stronger language used but also stronger intonation.

• “I advise you to take your husband’s depression SERIOUSLY and get him help.”

2. Modal verbs ‘should’ or ‘ought to’, and ‘must’

‘should’ and ‘ought to’ have the same meaning and are used for very strong suggestions and advice.

• “You should also go to family counselling because social support is ESPECIALLY important in depression.”
• “You really OUGHT TO see someone who SPECIALISES in clinical depression.”
• “You really MUST see someone who SPECIALISES in clinical depression.” (this also has more of an emergent tone to it.)

Warning

This is so the listener is aware of a potential danger. But…

Warning! Try to avoid using “I warn you” when speaking to patients as it might seem aggressive or alarming and can make them more anxious.

Instead a warning is better done with indirect language such as:

• “Be aware that stopping smoking can sometimes make depression WORSE. So, it’s better therefore to take medication, as well.”