Appraise or Apprise (What’s the Difference?)

When to use appraise vs. apprise

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

Word forms of appraise/apprise

• appraisal noun
• appraise verb
• appraisee noun
• appraiser noun

• Verb forms: apprises, apprising, apprised,

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 participle of apprendre “to inform, teach” (Old French aprendre, 12c.), etymologically “to lay hold of (in the mind),” from Latin apprehendere “take hold of, grasp” mentally or physically, from ad “to” (see ad-) + prehendere “to seize”

Read about other misused words

Sources

1. Oxford Learner’s Dictionary on “appraise” and “apprise”. Accessed 11 March, 2024.
   
2. Harper, Douglas. “Etymology of appraise/apprise.” Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/word/appraise. Accessed 11 March, 2024.