[Vocabulary] ‘to advise somebody of something’ usage

[northpath]

Is the phrase ‘to advise somebody of something’ too old-fashioned or it can be used in business correspondence. For example:
We'll advise you of any changes in the delivery dates.
instead of plain
We'll inform you of any changes in the delivery dates.

 

[jutfrank]

I don't think it's too old-fashioned but I think the version with inform is better.

 

[emsr2d2]

I find no discernible difference between them.

 

[jutfrank]

A difference might be that advise is better when it means 'to give advice' and inform when it means 'to give information'. Both could possibly be more suitable here in terms of meaning, but without more context, I'm guessing that it's essentially about updating information.

On the other hand, I feel that since advice is a friendly thing, advise may be a softer way of giving what is likely to be bad news, if we assume the change of date is a delay in delivery to the customer.