Appraise and apprise are two English words that look and sound quite similar. Because of this, students and English learners often mix them up when writing or speaking.
However, these words have completely different meanings.
- Appraise means to judge or evaluate the value, quality, or condition of something.
- Apprise means to inform or tell someone about something.
For example:
The expert will appraise the painting.
This means the expert will examine the painting and decide how valuable it is.
Please apprise me of any changes.
This means “Please inform me about any changes.”
The difference becomes easy once you connect each word with its main idea: appraise = evaluate, while apprise = inform.
Quick Answer: Appraise vs. Apprise
Here is the easiest way to remember the difference:
- Appraise = to evaluate, judge, or estimate the value of something.
- Apprise = to inform, notify, or tell someone about something.
- An appraiser is a person who determines the value of something.
- Apprise is usually used when someone is being given information.
- You might appraise a house, but you apprise someone of a problem.
- Appraise is commonly connected with value, quality, price, or condition.
- Apprise is commonly connected with information, news, changes, or situations.
Simple memory trick
Think:
Appraise → Price
Both words contain the idea of judging value or price.
Apprise → Inform
Think of apprise as giving someone important information.
What Does “Appraise” Mean?
Appraise is a verb. It means to carefully examine something and decide its value, quality, condition, or importance.
It is often used when someone wants to know how much something is worth.
For example:
The jeweler appraised the diamond.
The jeweler examined the diamond and estimated its value.
Another example:
We asked an expert to appraise the old furniture.
The expert examined the furniture and decided how valuable it was.
Appraise can also mean evaluate
The word does not always refer to money. It can also mean to examine something and form an opinion about its quality or condition.
For example:
The manager appraised the employee’s performance.
Here, the manager is evaluating how well the employee performed.
You could also say:
The teacher appraised the student’s progress.
This means the teacher evaluated the student’s progress.
Common situations for “appraise”
You may see appraise when talking about:
- Houses
- Cars
- Jewelry
- Paintings
- Antiques
- Furniture
- Employee performance
- Work quality
- Property
- Valuable objects
Examples with “appraise”
- The bank needs to appraise the house before approving the loan.
- An expert appraised the painting at $5,000.
- The jeweler will appraise the necklace.
- The manager appraised her work.
- We hired someone to appraise the antique table.
What Does “Apprise” Mean?
Apprise is also a verb, but it has a completely different meaning.
It means to inform someone about something or give someone important information.
For example:
Please apprise me of the situation.
This means:
Please inform me about the situation.
Another example:
The manager apprised the staff of the new rules.
This means the manager informed the staff about the new rules.
The usual pattern
Apprise someone of something
This is the most common structure.
For example:
- apprise me of the changes
- apprise him of the problem
- apprise her of the decision
- apprise them of the situation
Examples with “apprise”
- Please apprise me of any changes.
- The doctor apprised the family of the patient’s condition.
- The company apprised its workers of the new policy.
- We will apprise you of the final decision.
- The officer apprised the team of the danger.
In everyday conversation, inform, tell, or notify is usually more common than apprise. “Apprise” can sound formal, especially in business or official writing.
Appraise vs. Apprise: The Main Difference
The easiest way to understand these words is to focus on what happens after each action.
When you appraise something, you evaluate it.
When you apprise someone, you give them information.
Compare these two sentences:
The expert will appraise the house.
The expert will examine the house and estimate its value or condition.
The agent will apprise the owner of the results.
The agent will inform the owner about the results.
So, one word is about evaluation, while the other is about information.
Appraise and Apprise Comparison Table
| Word | Meaning | Usually Used With | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appraise | To evaluate or estimate value | Objects, property, work, quality | The expert appraised the painting. |
| Apprise | To inform or notify | People and information | Please apprise me of the decision. |
Another simple comparison
| If you mean… | Use |
|---|---|
| Judge the value of a house | Appraise |
| Estimate the price of jewelry | Appraise |
| Evaluate someone’s work | Appraise |
| Tell someone about a change | Apprise |
| Inform someone about a problem | Apprise |
| Notify someone about a decision | Apprise |
Where Did These Words Come From?
Both words have a long history in English, which helps explain why they look so similar today.
Appraise developed from words connected with judging or setting a value or price. Over time, its meaning became associated with examining something and deciding what it is worth.
Apprise comes from a different historical path and is connected with the idea of informing or making someone aware of something.
Although the words look almost alike, they did not develop with the same meaning.
That is why you should not assume that appraise and apprise can be used interchangeably.
Which One Should You Use and When?
Choosing between these words becomes simple when you ask yourself one question:
Am I evaluating something or informing someone?
If you are evaluating, use appraise.
The expert will appraise the antique.
If you are informing, use apprise.
Please apprise me of the results.
Use “appraise” when:
- You are deciding how much something is worth.
- You are examining the quality of something.
- You are evaluating performance.
- You are judging the condition of something.
Use “apprise” when:
- You are giving someone information.
- You are telling someone about a change.
- You are notifying someone about a situation.
- You are making someone aware of something.
Common Mistakes People Make
Mistake 1: Using “apprise” for value
Incorrect:
The expert will apprise the painting.
If you mean the expert will determine the painting’s value, use appraise.
Correct:
The expert will appraise the painting.
Mistake 2: Using “appraise” when you mean inform
Incorrect:
Please appraise me of the meeting time.
If you mean “please tell me,” use apprise.
Correct:
Please apprise me of the meeting time.
Mistake 3: Forgetting “of” after apprise
A common pattern is:
For example:
She apprised us of the changes.
Not:
She apprised us the changes.
Remember the small word of.
Mistake 4: Thinking “appraise” only means price
“Appraise” is strongly connected with value, but it can also mean evaluate or judge.
For example:
The supervisor appraised his performance.
No price is involved. The supervisor is evaluating his work.
Everyday Real-Life Examples
These words can appear in many situations.
At a bank
A bank may need someone to appraise a house before approving a mortgage.
The bank hired an expert to appraise the property.
The expert is determining the property’s value.
In a workplace
A manager may appraise an employee’s performance.
The manager will appraise everyone’s work at the end of the year.
The manager is evaluating the employees.
The manager might then apprise the employees of the results.
The manager apprised the employees of their final scores.
Here, the manager is giving information.
In an email
You may see a formal sentence such as:
Please apprise me of any changes to the schedule.
This simply means:
Please tell me about any changes to the schedule.
In a news report
A news report might say:
Officials were apprised of the situation.
This means officials were informed about what was happening.
At an antique shop
An expert may appraise an old watch.
The collector asked an expert to appraise the watch.
The expert is estimating its value.
A Simple Learning Trick for Students
If you are learning English, do not try to memorize long definitions. Connect each word with one simple idea.
Appraise = Assess Value
Think about a person looking carefully at a:
- house
- diamond
- painting
- car
They are trying to decide its value or quality.
Appraise = evaluate.
Apprise = Give Information
Think about a manager sending an email:
“We need to apprise you of an important change.”
The manager is giving information.
Apprise = inform.
One sentence to remember both
The expert appraised the house, and the agent apprised the owner of its value.
This sentence shows the difference clearly:
- Appraised = evaluated the house.
- Apprised = informed the owner.
Appraise and Apprise in Different Forms
Learning the related forms can also help.
Appraise
- appraise — present form
- appraised — past form
- appraising — -ing form
- appraisal — the act or result of evaluating something
- appraiser — a person who evaluates value
Example:
The appraiser completed the appraisal of the house.
Apprise
- apprise — present form
- apprised — past form
- apprising — -ing form
Example:
The manager apprised the team of the changes.
FAQ:
1. What is the difference between appraise and apprise?
Appraise means to evaluate or estimate the value of something. Apprise means to inform someone about something.
2. Is “appraise” related to price?
Yes. Appraise is often used when someone examines something to estimate its value or price.
The jeweler appraised the ring.
3. Does “apprise” mean inform?
Yes. Apprise means to inform, notify, or make someone aware of something.
Please apprise me of the changes.
4. Can I use appraise and apprise interchangeably?
No. They have different meanings. Use appraise for evaluation and apprise for information.
5. What does “apprise me of” mean?
“Apprise me of” means inform me about or tell me about something.
Please apprise me of the situation.
means:
Please inform me about the situation.
6. Is “apprise” common in everyday English?
It is correct, but it is more formal than words such as tell or inform. You are more likely to see it in formal emails, reports, or official writing.
7. What is an appraiser?
An appraiser is a person who examines something and estimates its value, such as a house, car, jewelry, or artwork.
8. What is the easiest way to remember the difference?
Remember:
Appraise = evaluate
Apprise = inform
If you are judging value, choose appraise. If you are giving information, choose apprise.
Conclusion
The difference between appraise and apprise is much easier once you focus on their actions.
Appraise means to evaluate, judge, or estimate the value or quality of something. You can appraise a house, painting, car, diamond, or someone’s performance.
Apprise means to inform or notify someone about something. You can apprise someone of a change, decision, problem, or situation.
The simplest memory rule is:
So, if an expert is deciding what something is worth, appraise is the right word. If someone is giving another person information, apprise is the right word.Once you remember this simple difference, these two easily confused words become much easier to use correctly.
Joshua Paul is a creative writer and contributor at PunsJet.com who enjoys crafting witty puns and clever wordplay. With a strong sense of humor and a love for language, he creates entertaining content that readers can easily share and enjoy. Joshua’s goal is to spread laughter through fun and memorable jokes.
