Appraise vs Apprise: How Do You Use Each Correctly?

Have you ever written “appraise” when you actually meant “apprise”? These two words look and sound similar, but they have completely different meanings.

Understanding appraise vs apprise can help you avoid a common English mistake, especially in professional emails, business writing, academic work, and formal communication.

The good news is that the difference is easy to remember once you connect each word with its meaning.

Appraise means to evaluate or determine the value of something, while apprise means to inform or notify someone about something.

In this guide, you’ll learn the definitions, pronunciation, examples, common mistakes, and a simple memory trick that makes choosing the right word much easier.

Quick Answer: Appraise vs Apprise

Appraise means to evaluate, assess, or estimate the value or quality of something.

Apprise means to inform, notify, or make someone aware of something.

• Appraise = evaluate
• Apprise = inform

For example: “The expert will appraise the painting” means the expert will evaluate its value. “Please apprise me of any changes” means please inform me about any changes.

What Does Appraise Mean?

The verb appraise means to carefully evaluate, assess, or estimate something. It is particularly common when determining the monetary value of an object, property, artwork, jewelry, or other possession.

For example:

The real estate agent appraised the house at $450,000.

Here, appraised means the agent evaluated the property and estimated its market value.

However, appraise does not always refer to money. It can also mean examining someone’s performance, abilities, condition, or overall quality.

For example:

• The manager appraised the employee’s performance.
• An expert appraised the antique furniture.
• The mechanic appraised the condition of the vehicle.
• The committee appraised the project’s potential.

Appraise Synonyms

Depending on the context, synonyms for appraise include:

• evaluate
• assess
• estimate
• judge
• examine
• rate
• value
• review

The most useful synonym to remember is evaluate.

What Does Apprise Mean?

The verb apprise means to inform someone about something or make someone aware of a situation.

It is generally used when a person receives information or an update.

For example:

Please apprise me of any developments.

This means:

Please inform me of any developments.

You will often see apprise in formal or professional English, particularly in phrases such as “apprise someone of something.”

Examples include:

• Please apprise the team of the latest changes.
• We will apprise you of the final decision.
• The director was apprised of the situation.
• Keep me apprised of any updates.

Apprise Synonyms

Common synonyms include:

• inform
• notify
• advise
• tell
• update
• brief
• alert
• make aware

The easiest synonym to remember is inform.

Appraise vs Apprise: The Main Difference

The simplest way to understand appraise vs apprise is to focus on the action involved.

Appraise involves evaluating something.

Apprise involves informing someone.

Word	Meaning	Typical Context	Example
Appraise	Evaluate or assess	Property, objects, performance	The jeweler appraised the diamond.
Apprise	Inform or notify	Updates, decisions, situations	Please apprise me of the decision.

Think of it this way:

Appraise → assessment

Apprise → information

This distinction works in most everyday and professional situations.

Appraise Examples in Sentences

Here are several examples showing how appraise is used naturally:

1. The bank hired an expert to appraise the property.
2. The auctioneer appraised the painting before the sale.
3. We need to appraise the risks before moving forward.
4. Her supervisor will appraise her performance next month.
5. The specialist appraised the antique vase at $2,000.
6. The insurance company sent someone to appraise the damage.
7. The committee appraised the project’s overall effectiveness.

Notice that each example involves evaluation, judgment, assessment, or valuation.

Apprise Examples in Sentences

Now compare those sentences with examples using apprise:

1. Please apprise me of any changes to the schedule.
2. The manager apprised the staff of the new policy.
3. We will apprise you of the results as soon as possible.
4. She kept her supervisor apprised of the situation.
5. The lawyer apprised his client of the potential consequences.
6. Please keep me apprised of developments.
7. The board was apprised of the financial difficulties.

In these sentences, nobody is evaluating an object. Instead, someone is giving information to another person.

Appraise vs Apprise Pronunciation

Pronunciation can make these words even more confusing.

Appraise is pronounced approximately:

uh-PRAYZ

It rhymes with words such as “raise.”

Apprise is pronounced approximately:

uh-PRIZE

It rhymes with “prize.”

The different final sounds can help you distinguish them when speaking.

• Appraise → “prays” sound
• Apprise → “prize” sound

Although the spelling is similar, the pronunciation gives you an additional clue.

The Common Phrase “Keep Me Apprised”

One of the most useful expressions to learn is:

“Keep me apprised.”

It means:

“Keep me informed.”

For example:

Please keep me apprised of any changes to the project.

This is common in business and formal communication.

You might also see:

Keep me apprised of the situation.

This means that the speaker wants to receive updates.

By contrast, you would not normally say “keep me appraised” when you mean “keep me informed.”

Common Mistakes With Appraise and Apprise

Because the words are so similar, mistakes are understandable.

Mistake 1: Using “appraise” for information

Incorrect:

Please appraise me of the latest developments.

Correct:

Please apprise me of the latest developments.

If you want someone to inform you, use apprise.

Mistake 2: Using “apprise” for evaluation

Incorrect:

The expert will apprise the value of the painting.

Correct:

The expert will appraise the value of the painting.

If an expert is determining value, use appraise.

Mistake 3: Confusing “appraised” and “apprised”

Compare:

The house was appraised at $500,000.

This means its value was assessed.

The owner was apprised of the offer.

This means the owner was informed about the offer.

The endings may look nearly identical, but the meanings are entirely different.

A Simple Memory Trick

Here is an easy way to remember the difference:

Appraise = Assess

Both words begin with an A.

Apprise = Inform

Think of receiving a prize of information: apprise sounds like “a-prize.”

Another practical trick is to ask yourself:

Am I evaluating something?

Use appraise.

Am I informing someone?

Use apprise.

This two-question test works surprisingly well.

Appraise vs Apprise in Business English

Both words can appear in professional writing, but apprise is especially common in formal communication.

For example:

Please keep me apprised of any developments.

This sounds formal and professional.

A less formal alternative would be:

Please keep me updated.

Similarly, instead of:

The consultant will appraise the proposal.

You could say:

The consultant will evaluate the proposal.

Knowing these alternatives helps you choose language appropriate to your audience.

American vs British English Differences

There is no major American-versus-British difference in the basic meanings of appraise and apprise. Both varieties of English use the words with essentially the same definitions.

However, apprise tends to sound formal in both American and British English. In everyday conversation, speakers are more likely to use words such as inform, tell, or update.

Appraise is more common in contexts involving property, financial valuation, performance assessment, and professional evaluation.

For example, American and British speakers can both say:

The property was appraised by an independent expert.

And:

Please keep me apprised of the situation.

The difference is primarily about formality and context, not regional meaning.

Appraise vs Apprise: Which One Should You Use?

Use this quick guide:

• Property value → appraise
• Antique value → appraise
• Employee performance → appraise
• Risk assessment → appraise
• Inform someone → apprise
• Give someone an update → apprise
• Notify someone about a decision → apprise
• Keep someone informed → apprise

Compare These Two Sentences

The expert will appraise the necklace.

The expert will evaluate its value.

The expert will apprise the owner of the results.

The expert will inform the owner about the results.

Sometimes both words can appear in the same situation, but they perform completely different jobs.

Why Are Appraise and Apprise So Often Confused?

The confusion comes mainly from their similar spelling and pronunciation. Both begin with ap- and contain similar letters, while both are relatively formal verbs.

There is also a connection in their historical development to ideas involving judgment and information, which may contribute to their similar appearance.

Modern English, however, gives them clearly separate meanings.

When proofreading, don’t rely only on how familiar a word looks. Instead, consider what you are trying to say.

If the intended meaning is evaluate, choose appraise.

If the intended meaning is inform, choose apprise.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it “appraise” or “apprise”?

It depends on the meaning. Use appraise when you mean evaluate or assess. Use apprise when you mean inform or notify.

What does “keep me apprised” mean?

“Keep me apprised” means keep me informed or updated about a situation.

Is “appraise” related to price?

Yes. Appraise is commonly used when someone evaluates the monetary value of something, such as a house, car, jewelry, or artwork.

Is “apprise” a formal word?

Yes. Apprise is generally considered formal or somewhat formal. In everyday speech, “inform,” “tell,” or “update” may sound more natural.

Can appraise and apprise be used interchangeably?

No. They have different meanings. Appraise means evaluate, while apprise means inform.

Is “keep me appraised” correct?

If you mean “keep me informed,” the standard expression is “keep me apprised.” “Appraised” has the meaning of evaluated or assessed.

What is an easy synonym for appraise?

Evaluate is an excellent synonym for appraise.

What is an easy synonym for apprise?

Inform is the easiest synonym to remember for apprise.

Final Summary

The difference between appraise vs apprise becomes simple once you focus on their actions. Appraise means to evaluate, assess, judge, or determine the value of something.

It is commonly used with property, antiques, jewelry, performance, risks, and other things that require careful assessment.

Apprise, on the other hand, means to inform or notify someone. It is especially common in formal expressions such as “apprise someone of something” and “keep me apprised.”

Although both words appear in American and British English, apprise generally has a more formal tone.

Actionable Takeaway

Before using either word, ask yourself one question: Am I evaluating something or informing someone? If you’re evaluating, assessing, or valuing something, choose appraise. If you’re giving someone information or an update, choose apprise.

A quick memory formula is all you need: Appraise = assess; apprise = inform. Once this distinction becomes familiar, you’ll be much less likely to confuse these two easily mixed-up English words.

---