Writers offer advice in a variety of forms, from advice columns to speeches and presentations to essays and articles. What distinguishes documents that offer advice is the writer’s purpose and role: writers who offer advice acknowledge that a problem exists, that they understand the problem, that their readers have an interest in the problem (and most likely are affected by it), and that their advice — their solution to the problem — is worth sharing.

Keeping in mind the observation that free advice is usually worth what you pay for it, readers can sometimes gain a great deal from the writers and presenters who offer it, particularly when the advice is supported by hard-won experience and insights gained through careful reflection and analysis. But how can you determine whether the advice is trustworthy and useful? To some extent, you can base your trust on the reputation of the publisher. Well-established publishers — such as reputable magazines, major news channels, and many of the larger book publishers — guard their reputations vigorously, and readers or viewers can expect that the advice they make available will have gone through a careful vetting process. You can also make judgments about the quality of advice by comparing what is being said with your understanding of the problem and reflecting on your experiences. If you find that the advice seems applicable, you might have greater confidence in following it.

The evidence and analysis offered as support for advice varies widely. Advice is often based on analysis or personal experience, but it can also include results from studies, statistical analysis of survey data, excerpts from interviews, and reports from observation. In most cases, the sources of advice are identified within the text or presentation in relatively general forms, most often by referring to the author or title of the source. Formal, in-text citation and works cited lists are seldom used.