When to Use Appraise vs. Apprise
🔍 Appraise (verb): To assess the value or quality of something.
Memory aid: Think apprAIse to Assess value or set a prAIce.
🗣️ Apprise (verb): To inform or tell someone.
Memory aid: Think apprIse to Inform.
Incorrect: We’ve been appraised of all the relevant issues.
Correct: We’ve been apprised of all the relevant issues.
*Example is borrowed from the Blue Book of Grammar. To appraise means to “consider or examine somebody/something and form an opinion about it”; also, relatedly, “to officially examine a building, an object, etc. and say how much it is worth”.
To apprise is when we “tell or inform somebody of something”. Its synonyms include words like inform, notify or make (someone/something) aware.
“Appraise” / “apprise”, used in sentences
| Examples: “appraise”, used in sentences |
|---|
| Her eyes coolly appraised him.
She stepped back to appraise her workmanship. The architect gave the exterior an appraising glance. |
| Examples: “apprise”, used in sentences |
|---|
| He saw no reason to apprise the committee of what had happened.
We were made fully apprised of the situation. Let me apprise you of where we stand in the discussion. |
Word forms of appraise/apprise
- appraisal noun
- appraise verb
- appraisee noun
- appraiser noun
- Verb forms: apprises, apprising, apprised,
“appraise” versus “apprise,” associate “appraise” with “assessing value” (like appraising a house) and “apprise” with “informing” someone (like apprising them of news).
Appraise, synonyms
- apprize
- assess
- audit
- calculate
- check out
- evaluate
- examine
- gauge
- inspect
- peg
- evaluate
- judge
Apprise, synonyms
- advise
- apprize
- brief
- inform
- notify
Word origins: appraise/apprise
|
c. 1400, appreisen, “to set a value on,” from stem of Old French aprisier “appraise, set a price on” (14c., Modern French apprécier), from Late Latin appretiare “value, estimate,” from ad “to” (see ad-) + pretium “price” |
|
“To notify, give notice,” 1690s, from French appris, past … etymologically “to lay hold of (in the mind),” from Latin apprehendere “take hold of, grasp” mentally or physically. |
Read about other misused words
| Commonly misused words | UK English vs. US English |
|---|---|
| former vs. latter | burned or burnt? |
| bear with vs. bare with | color or colour? |
| breathe or breath | favorite vs. favourite |
| compliment vs. complement | smelled or smelt? |
| effect vs. affect | gray or grey? |
| elude or allude | favor vs. favour |
| it’s or its | analyze or analyse? |
Worksheet
According to the blog post, what does the word “appraise” mean?
Which word is used when you want to tell or inform someone about something?
The memory aid “appr AI se to A ssess value or set a pr AI ce” is associated with which word?
In the sentence, “The realtor appraised the house’s value at one million dollars,” what does “appraised” mean?
According to the post, which word is a synonym for “apprise”?
We asked a professional to __________ the antique furniture before we sell it.
The manager will __________ the staff of the changes in company policy during the next meeting.
She stepped back to __________ her workmanship on the painting.
They were fully __________ of the situation before they made their decision.
It is important to __________ the risks involved before starting a new venture.
FAQs
What’s the main difference?
+
What does ‘appraise’ mean?
+
What does ‘apprise’ mean?
+
How do I remember ‘appraise’?
+
How do I remember ‘apprise’?
+
Yash, D. "Appraise or Apprise (What’s the Difference?)." Grammarflex, Jun 25, 2025, https://www.grammarflex.com/appraise-or-apprise-whats-the-difference/.
Sources
-
Oxford Learner’s Dictionary on “appraise” and “apprise”. Accessed 11 March 2024. Harper, Douglas. “Etymology of appraise/apprise.” Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/word/appraise. Accessed 11 March 2024.
