Have you ever typed a sentence, paused, and wondered whether you should write appraise vs apprise? I have seen this mix-up many times in student papers, workplace emails, and online writing. The two words look and sound close, but they do very different jobs. One is about judging the value, quality, or worth of something. The other is about informing someone or keeping them updated.
That small difference can change the meaning of an entire sentence. 😊 In this guide, I will show you how to tell them apart without memorizing a long list of grammar rules. We will look at simple definitions, examples, common mistakes, workplace situations, memory tricks, and practice questions.
By the end, you should be able to choose the right word quickly and use it with confidence. Angel vs Angle | Amoral vs Immoral | Alter vs Altar
🎯 Quick Answer: Appraise vs Apprise
The basic difference is simple: appraise means to judge or assess the value, quality, or condition of something, while apprise means to inform or notify someone about something. If you are deciding what something is worth, use appraise. If you are telling someone about a situation or update, use apprise.
For example:
- ✅ The agent will appraise the house before the sale.
- ❌ The agent will apprise the house before the sale.
- ✅ Please apprise me of any changes.
- ❌ Please appraise me of any changes.
A useful shortcut is: appraise = assess; apprise = inform.
What Do Appraise and Apprise Mean?
The easiest way to understand these words is to focus on the action each one describes. Appraise involves making a judgment. Apprise involves giving information. Appraise vs apprise can be confusing because these two words look and sound similar.
Appraise: Meaning and Correct Use
Appraise is a verb. It means to examine something carefully and judge its value, quality, condition, or importance.
You might appraise:
- a house
- a car
- jewelry
- artwork
- an employee’s performance
- a business
- a piece of work
- a situation
For example:
The expert will appraise the antique before the auction.
Here, the expert is examining the antique and deciding what it is worth.
Another example:
My manager will appraise my work at the end of the year.
Here, the manager is evaluating the quality of the employee’s work.
Apprise: Meaning and Correct Use
Apprise is also a verb. It means to inform, notify, or tell someone about something. Understanding appraise vs apprise starts with knowing what each word means.
It is often followed by of:
Please apprise me of any changes to the schedule.
This means:
Please inform me about any changes to the schedule.
You will often see apprise in formal writing, business emails, official notices, and professional communication.
Quick Meaning Table
| Word | Word Type | Main Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appraise | Verb | Assess value, quality, or condition | The expert will appraise the painting. |
| Apprise | Verb | Inform or notify someone | Please apprise me of the decision. |
🔎 Is Appraise the Same as Apprise?
No, appraise and apprise are not interchangeable. Appraise means to assess something, while apprise means to inform someone.
Think about who receives the action.
With appraise, the object being examined is usually the thing after the verb:
The jeweler appraised the necklace.
With apprise, a person is usually being informed:
The manager apprised the staff of the change.
This gives you a helpful pattern:
Appraise + thing being evaluated
Apprise + person + of + information
That pattern is not a rule for every possible sentence, but it works very well for everyday writing.
📊 Appraise vs Apprise at a Glance
| Form | Type | Meaning | Example | Correct/Incorrect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appraise | Verb | Judge value or quality | She appraised the diamond. | ✅ Correct |
| Apprise | Verb | Inform someone | She apprised me of the decision. | ✅ Correct |
| Appraise | Verb | Inform someone | She appraised me of the decision. | ❌ Incorrect |
| Apprise | Verb | Judge value | She apprised the diamond. | ❌ Incorrect |
The key difference is evaluation versus information.
💡 How Can You Remember the Difference?
A simple memory trick can make this much easier.
Think of appraise as being connected to price.
The words are not identical, but appraise often involves deciding what something is worth. A house appraiser, for example, studies a property and gives an estimated value.
So:
Appraise → assess value → think about price
Now think of apprise as being connected to a person receiving news.
If you apprise someone of something, you give that person information.
So:
Apprise → provide information → tell someone
Test Tip
When you are unsure, ask yourself:
Am I judging something, or am I informing someone?
If you are judging, choose appraise.
If you are informing, choose apprise.
For example:
The manager needs to ______ the employee’s performance.
The manager is judging performance, so the answer is appraise.
Please ______ me of the meeting time.
The writer wants information passed to a person, so the answer is apprise.
📝 Correct Meanings and Uses
Understanding the main meanings is the best way to avoid confusion.
When Should You Use Appraise?
Use appraise when someone examines something and forms an opinion about its worth, quality, condition, or performance.
Common uses include:
- Property value
The bank asked an expert to appraise the house.
- Objects
The collector had the rare coin appraised.
- Artwork
The gallery asked a specialist to appraise the painting.
- Work performance
The supervisor will appraise the employee’s progress.
- Quality or condition
The mechanic appraised the condition of the vehicle.
When Should You Use Apprise?
Use apprise when someone gives another person information.
It often appears in the structure:
apprise + person + of + information
Examples include:
Please apprise the team of the new deadline.
I will apprise you of any further developments.
The lawyer apprised her client of the possible changes.
Meaning Summary
| Meaning | Word | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Assess monetary value | Appraise | The expert appraised the ring. |
| Evaluate performance | Appraise | The manager appraised his work. |
| Judge condition | Appraise | The inspector appraised the building. |
| Inform someone | Apprise | Please apprise me of the results. |
| Give someone an update | Apprise | She apprised the team of the change. |
🏢 How Are Appraise and Apprise Used at Work?
Workplace writing is one of the places where this distinction matters most. Appraise is common when discussing evaluations. Apprise is common when discussing updates or notifications. In workplace writing, appraise vs apprise can make a big difference in meaning.
Consider these two sentences:
The director will appraise the team’s performance.
The director will evaluate the team.
The director will apprise the team of the new policy.
The director will inform the team.
The difference is clear once you focus on the action.
Workplace Examples
| Situation | Correct Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Employee review | Appraise | The manager will appraise her performance. |
| Property valuation | Appraise | The lender will appraise the property. |
| Client update | Apprise | Please apprise the client of the delay. |
| Policy announcement | Apprise | We will apprise employees of the change. |
| Product evaluation | Appraise | The expert appraised the product’s quality. |
📝 Case Study: A Confusing Work Email
I once edited a workplace email in which a writer said, “Please appraise me of the latest project updates.” The writer clearly meant, “Please tell me about the latest updates.” The correct word was apprise.
The revised sentence was:
Please apprise me of the latest project updates.
That small correction made the message sound more professional and made the intended meaning clear.
Now imagine the opposite situation:
The company hired an expert to appraise the new office building.
Here, the expert is not giving the company general news. The expert is evaluating the building’s value or condition.
This is why context matters more than spelling.
📚 Grammar Rules Explanation
The two verbs have different meanings and different sentence patterns.
Appraise describes the act of evaluating or assessing something. The thing being assessed is normally the direct object.
The expert appraised the property.
The property is what the expert evaluated.
Apprise describes the act of informing someone. The person receiving the information is normally the object, often followed by of and the information being provided.
The expert apprised the owner of the property’s condition.
The owner receives the information.
Standard English references and dictionaries consistently distinguish these verbs by meaning. The spelling similarity does not make them interchangeable.
Correct vs Incorrect at a Glance
| Sentence | Correct/Incorrect | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The jeweler appraised the necklace. | ✅ Correct | The jeweler evaluated its value. |
| The jeweler apprised the necklace. | ❌ Incorrect | A necklace is not being informed. |
| Please apprise me of the changes. | ✅ Correct | A person is being informed. |
| Please appraise me of the changes. | ❌ Incorrect | The intended meaning is “inform me.” |
| The manager appraised her performance. | ✅ Correct | The manager evaluated her work. |
⚠️ Why Do People Confuse Appraise and Apprise?
People confuse these words because they look and sound very similar. Both begin with ap-, both are verbs, and both are common in formal writing. The confusion around appraise vs apprise often comes from their similar spelling and sound.
There is also a practical problem: most people encounter these words less often than simpler terms such as judge, value, tell, or inform.
I once caught myself typing “appraise” in a sentence where I meant “inform.” I stopped because the sentence sounded wrong when I read it aloud. That quick pause helped me remember the difference: appraisal is about judgment, while being apprised is about receiving information.
Common reasons for mistakes include:
- fast typing
- autocorrect
- unfamiliarity with formal vocabulary
- relying on sound instead of meaning
- remembering the spelling but forgetting the definition
Common Grammar Confusions
| Confusing Pair | Correct Difference |
|---|---|
| Its / It’s | Possession vs. “it is” |
| Your / You’re | Possession vs. “you are” |
| Affect / Effect | Influence vs. result |
| Compliment / Complement | Praise vs. something that completes |
| Appraise / Apprise | Evaluate vs. inform |
Common Wrong Forms and Uses
| Wrong Form | What’s Wrong | Correct Form |
|---|---|---|
| Appraise me of the news. | The intended meaning is “inform me.” | Apprise me of the news. |
| Apprise the house. | A house can be evaluated, not informed. | Appraise the house. |
| Apprised the jewelry | The jewelry is being evaluated. | Appraised the jewelry. |
| Appraised the staff of the change | The staff is being informed. | Apprised the staff of the change. |
| Appraise me about the update | The standard pattern is “apprise someone of.” | Apprise me of the update. |
🕰️ Where Do These Words Come From?
The histories of the two words help explain why their spellings became so similar while their meanings remained different. Both developed through older forms of English and French, but they followed different paths. The difference between appraise vs apprise becomes clearer when you look at different writing contexts.
For modern writers, however, you do not need to memorize their full histories. Their current meanings are what matter most.
| Period | Form | General Note |
|---|---|---|
| Earlier English | Related older forms | Both words developed through older forms of English usage. |
| Middle English period | Changing spellings | Spellings became more standardized over time. |
| Later English | Appraise | The word became strongly linked with assessment and value. |
| Later English | Apprise | The word became linked with informing or notifying. |
| Modern English | Appraise / Apprise | The words remain distinct in meaning despite similar spelling. |
The important lesson is simple: similar spelling does not mean identical meaning.
🌎 How Do You Use These Words in Different Contexts?
The context usually tells you which word belongs in the sentence.
Everyday Conversation
In casual speech, people often choose simpler words.
Instead of:
Please apprise me of the news.
You might say:
Please let me know the news.
Still, apprise is grammatically correct.
For evaluation, appraise remains useful:
Can you appraise the condition of this old car?
Professional Writing
Professional writing often uses both words.
Appraise works well for evaluations:
The supervisor will appraise employee performance.
Apprise works well for formal updates:
We will apprise all clients of the policy change.
Creative Writing
A writer may use appraise when a character studies something carefully.
She appraised the strange object before picking it up.
Apprise can create a more formal tone:
The captain was apprised of the danger.
Social Media and Texting
Most social posts favor simple words such as tell, inform, or update. However, both formal verbs can still be correct.
I will apprise everyone of the final results.
That sentence is grammatically fine, although “I will update everyone” sounds more natural online.
Context Table
| Context | Which Term to Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Everyday evaluation | Appraise | Can you appraise this old watch? |
| Professional evaluation | Appraise | The manager appraised his work. |
| Professional update | Apprise | Please apprise the team of the change. |
| Creative description | Appraise | She appraised the mysterious object. |
| Formal notification | Apprise | The board was apprised of the issue. |
| Social media | Either, depending on meaning | I will apprise everyone of the results. |
💬 Common Phrases With Appraise and Apprise
There are several useful patterns that can help you recognize each word. Learning common phrases can make appraise vs apprise easier to remember.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Appraise the value | Determine how valuable something is |
| Appraise the property | Assess a property’s value or condition |
| Appraise someone’s performance | Evaluate someone’s work |
| Apprise someone of something | Inform someone about something |
| Keep someone apprised | Keep someone informed |
| Be fully apprised | Be fully informed about a situation |
The phrase keep someone apprised is especially useful in professional writing.
For example:
Please keep me apprised of any changes.
This means:
Please keep me informed of any changes.
🔄 What Are Good Alternatives to Appraise and Apprise?
Sometimes a simpler word is better. The best alternative depends on what you mean. Knowing alternatives can also help you understand appraise vs apprise more clearly.
For appraise, you might use:
- assess
- evaluate
- value
- judge
- examine
For apprise, you might use:
- inform
- notify
- tell
- update
- brief
Alternatives Table
| Alternative | Works When | Does Not Work When |
|---|---|---|
| Assess | You are judging something | You are simply giving news |
| Evaluate | You are examining quality or performance | You are notifying someone |
| Value | You are deciding worth | You are giving an update |
| Inform | You are giving information | You are judging value |
| Notify | You are officially telling someone | You are evaluating something |
Choosing a simpler synonym can sometimes prevent confusion.
Instead of worrying about whether to write appraise or apprise, ask what you actually mean. If “evaluate” fits, choose appraise. If “inform” fits, choose apprise.
🎯 Why Does Getting This Difference Right Matter?
Correct word choice improves clarity. A reader should not have to guess what you meant.
Imagine writing:
Please appraise me of the meeting changes.
The reader may understand your intention, but the word is wrong. Apprise is the better choice.
Now consider:
The bank will apprise the house before approving the loan.
That sentence makes no logical sense. A house cannot receive information. The correct word is appraise because the bank or its expert is evaluating the property.
As a teacher and editor, I see word choice as more than a spelling issue. The right word helps your reader understand the action immediately.
“Clear words make clear ideas easier to share.”
Why Accuracy Matters
| Situation | Why Getting It Right Matters |
|---|---|
| Resume | Shows careful word choice |
| Client email | Prevents confusion |
| Published content | Builds trust with readers |
| Social post | Makes the message easier to understand |
🧠 How To Remember the Difference Every Time
Here is the shortest memory system I recommend: The easiest way to remember appraise vs apprise is to connect each word with its main action.
Appraise = Assess
Both are about judging or evaluating.
Appraise the house.
Apprise = Inform
Both involve giving information.
Apprise me of the news.
You can also remember the common phrase:
Keep me apprised.
If you are keeping someone informed, you are keeping that person apprised.
Try this mini-test:
The jeweler will ______ the diamond.
The answer is appraise.
Please ______ me of the results.
The answer is apprise.
If you can answer those two quickly, you understand the central distinction.
✍️ Practice: Can You Choose the Right Word?
Choose appraise or apprise in each sentence. This quick practice will help you master appraise vs apprise in real sentences.
- The expert will ______ the painting before the auction.
- Please ______ me of any schedule changes.
- The manager will ______ the employee’s performance.
- We need to ______ the value of the property.
- The director promised to ______ the board of the latest news.
Answers
- Appraise — the painting is being evaluated.
- Apprise — a person is being informed.
- Appraise — performance is being evaluated.
- Appraise — value is being assessed.
- Apprise — the board is receiving information.
❓ Why Is Apprise Usually Followed by “Of”?
Apprise commonly appears in the structure apprise someone of something. The person receives the information, and of introduces the information being shared.
For example:
The manager apprised the employees of the new rules.
The employees are the people receiving the information.
This structure is one of the easiest clues that apprise is the correct word.
You may also see:
Keep me apprised of any developments.
This means:
Keep me informed about any developments.
❓ Can You Say “Appraise Someone”?
Yes, but the meaning is different from informing someone. You can appraise a person when you evaluate that person’s performance, skills, or qualities.
For example:
The supervisor appraised the employee’s performance.
You can also say:
The supervisor appraised the employee.
The exact wording depends on the context, but the meaning is evaluation, not notification.
If your intended meaning is “tell someone,” use apprise instead.
❓ Is “Keep Me Apprised” Correct?
Yes. Keep me apprised is a standard expression meaning “keep me informed” or “keep me updated.”
For example:
Keep me apprised of any changes to the project.
This is especially common in professional or formal communication.
❓ Is “Appraise Me of” Correct?
Usually, no, when you mean “inform me of.” The correct expression is apprise me of.
Compare:
- ❌ Please appraise me of the decision.
- ✅ Please apprise me of the decision.
However, appraise can be used with a person when you mean evaluate that person or the person’s work.
❓ What Is the Difference Between Appraise and Assess?
Both can mean evaluating something. Appraise often suggests judging value, quality, condition, or performance. Assess is broader and can refer to judging many kinds of situations, skills, risks, or results.
For example:
The expert appraised the house.
The teacher assessed the student’s reading skills.
The words can overlap in some contexts, but they are not alternatives for apprise.
❓ What Is the Difference Between Apprise and Inform?
They can have nearly the same meaning. Inform is much more common in everyday English. Apprise is more formal and often appears in the phrase apprise someone of something.
For casual writing:
Please inform me of any changes.
For formal writing:
Please apprise me of any changes.
Both communicate the same basic idea.
❓ Can Appraise and Apprise Be Used in the Same Sentence?
Yes, they can appear in the same sentence when they describe two different actions.
For example:
The expert will appraise the property and apprise the owner of its estimated value.
The expert first evaluates the property. Then the expert informs the owner about the result.
This sentence is a useful demonstration because both words have clear, separate jobs.
❓ Which Word Is Used for Property?
Use appraise when you mean determining or evaluating the value or condition of property.
The bank ordered an expert to appraise the house.
Use apprise when you mean informing someone about the property.
The agent apprised the buyer of the inspection results.
❓ Which Word Should I Use in a Business Email?
Use appraise when the email discusses an evaluation, review, or valuation. Use apprise when the email asks someone to be informed or kept updated.
For example:
We will appraise the proposal next week.
But:
We will apprise you of our decision next week.
A simple replacement test works well. If evaluate fits, use appraise. If inform fits, use apprise.
❓ What Is the Easiest Way to Remember Appraise vs Apprise?
Remember:
Appraise = assess.
Apprise = inform.
You can also connect appraise with value and apprise with information.
When you see the phrase “of the” after the verb and a person is receiving news, apprise is often the word you need.
❓ Are Appraise and Apprise Pronounced the Same?
They are commonly pronounced differently in standard English, even though their spellings are close. For practical writing, however, meaning is the most useful way to distinguish them.
Do not rely only on sound. Look at what the sentence is trying to say.
❓ Is Apprised a Correct Word?
Yes. Apprised is the past tense and past participle of apprise.
For example:
The manager was apprised of the situation.
Likewise, appraised is the past tense and past participle of appraise:
The manager appraised the employee’s work.
The extra d does not change the basic distinction. The meaning still tells you which verb is correct.
❓ What Is the Best One-Line Rule for Appraise vs Apprise?
Use appraise when you evaluate something. Use apprise when you inform someone.
That is the rule worth remembering.
📋 Quick Recap Checklist
| Question | If Yes → Use |
|---|---|
| Am I judging the value of something? | Appraise |
| Am I evaluating someone’s work? | Appraise |
| Am I checking the condition of something? | Appraise |
| Am I informing someone about news? | Apprise |
| Am I telling someone about a change? | Apprise |
| Am I keeping someone updated? | Apprise |
Practice Examples
1. The realtor will ______ the property.
Answer: appraise
2. Please ______ me of the final decision.
Answer: apprise
3. The supervisor will ______ your performance.
Answer: appraise
A final memory line can make this almost automatic:
Appraise the thing. Apprise the person.
That is not a perfect rule for every sentence, but it is an excellent quick guide for most everyday uses.
🧩 Appraise vs Apprise: A Final Comparison
| Feature | Appraise | Apprise |
|---|---|---|
| Main idea | Evaluate | Inform |
| Common object | Thing, property, work, performance | Person |
| Common pattern | Appraise something | Apprise someone of something |
| Related simple word | Assess | Inform |
| Common workplace use | Performance review | Project update |
| Example | She appraised the artwork. | She apprised me of the news. |
✅ Conclusion: Appraise vs Apprise Made Simple
Appraise vs apprise becomes much easier once you connect each word to its main action. Appraise means to evaluate, judge, or assess the value, quality, condition, or performance of something. Apprise means to inform or notify someone about something. 😊
When you are checking the worth of a house, use appraise. When a manager is evaluating an employee, use appraise. When you are asking someone to keep you informed, use apprise. The phrase “keep me apprised” is another useful clue because it means “keep me informed.”
I recommend using the simple substitution test whenever you hesitate. If assess or evaluate fits, choose appraise. If inform or update fits, choose apprise.
Once you remember that appraise is about evaluation and apprise is about information, this common word pair stops being confusing. Keep that rule in mind, and your writing will be clearer, sharper, and more professional. ✨
[…] to improve your English, this guide will help you choose the right word with confidence. 😊 Appraise vs Apprise | Angel vs Angle | Amoral vs […]