Appraise vs Apprise: Meaning, Difference, Examples and Correct Usage 2026

Appraise vs apprise looks like a harmless spelling quirk until it lands in the wrong email. Tell your boss to “keep me appraised” and you have technically asked for a valuation of yourself. Tell a

Written by: Dilawar

Published on: October 19, 2026

Appraise vs apprise looks like a harmless spelling quirk until it lands in the wrong email. Tell your boss to “keep me appraised” and you have technically asked for a valuation of yourself. Tell a buyer the home was “apprised” at a certain price and you have quietly told them the house was informed.

Two verbs, one letter apart, and two completely different jobs. One puts a price or a grade on something. The other puts information in someone’s hands.

Table of Contents

Appraise vs Apprise:

Appraise means to judge the value, quality, or worth of something. Apprise means to inform or notify someone about something.

If you are measuring, grading, or pricing, use appraise. If you are telling, updating, or briefing a person, use apprise.

Definition Box

Word Part of speech Core meaning Sounds like
Appraise Verb To assess the value or quality of something uh-PRAYZ, rhymes with “raise”
Apprise Verb To inform someone of something uh-PRYZE, rhymes with “prize”

One Sentence Each

  • The bank sent a specialist to appraise the house.
  • The agent called to apprise the owners of the final price.

The Fastest Memory Trick

Appraise contains the word “raise,” and valuations are what rise or fall. Apprise ends the way “advise” does, and advising is a kind of informing.

Another simple trick: appraise is about value, apprise is about a person who needs to know.

What Does Appraise Mean?

To appraise something is to examine it and decide what it is worth. The judgment may be about money, quality, importance, or performance.

The word carries a sense of careful, often expert evaluation. It is not a casual guess.

Appraise Definition

Appraise is a transitive verb meaning to estimate the value, quality, or significance of a person, object, or situation. It always takes an object, which is the thing being judged.

You appraise a house, a diamond, a painting, an employee, or even a risk.

Appraise Pronunciation

Appraise is pronounced uh-PRAYZ. The stress falls on the second syllable, and the ending sounds like “raise,” “praise,” and “days.”

Saying the ending out loud can help you remember its meaning. You raise or lower the value.

Forms of Appraise

Form Example
Appraise They will appraise the ring tomorrow.
Appraises She appraises antiques for a living.
Appraised The land was appraised at a lower value than expected.
Appraising He gave her an appraising glance.
Appraisal (noun) The appraisal came in on time.
Appraiser (noun) The appraiser measured every room.

Where Appraise Is Used

Appraise appears in real estate, insurance, art, finance, education, and human resources. It also works in everyday speech when someone sizes up a situation.

  • Real estate: appraise a home before a mortgage is approved
  • Art and antiques: appraise a vase, a painting, or a coin collection
  • Insurance: appraise the damage after a storm
  • Business: appraise a company before a sale
  • Work: appraise an employee’s performance
  • Daily life: appraise a situation before making a decision

Appraise Synonyms

  • Assess
  • Evaluate
  • Value
  • Estimate
  • Rate
  • Gauge
  • Judge
  • Size up

Appraise Examples in a Sentence

  • The lender asked a certified appraiser to appraise the property.
  • Experts will appraise the manuscript before the auction.
  • She stood back to appraise the finished painting.
  • The committee will appraise each proposal on its merits.
  • A jeweler can appraise your grandmother’s necklace in minutes.

What Does Apprise Mean?

To apprise someone is to tell them something they need or want to know. It is a formal, polished way to say inform, notify, or update.

The word almost always involves two parts: the person being told and the information being shared.

Apprise Definition

Apprise is a transitive verb meaning to give someone notice or information about something. The person you inform is the object, and the topic usually follows the word “of.”

You apprise a client of a delay, a manager of a risk, or a team of a change.

Apprise Pronunciation

Apprise is pronounced uh-PRYZE. The stress falls on the second syllable, and the ending sounds like “prize,” “size,” and “advise.”

Notice that the vowel is different from appraise. That small difference is a major clue that the words are not interchangeable.

Forms of Apprise

Form Example
Apprise I will apprise you of any changes.
Apprises She apprises the board each month.
Apprised The team was apprised of the new schedule.
Apprising He is apprising the client of the delay.

Apprise has no everyday noun form. If you want a noun, you can say “update,” “notice,” or “briefing.”

Where Apprise Is Used

Apprise tends to appear in professional, legal, diplomatic, and journalistic writing. It signals formality and is common in emails to supervisors and clients.

  • Business: apprise management of a problem
  • Law: apprise a defendant of their rights
  • Government: apprise officials of a developing situation
  • News reporting: the president was apprised of the incident
  • Project work: keep stakeholders apprised of progress

Apprise Synonyms

  • Inform
  • Notify
  • Update
  • Advise
  • Brief
  • Tell
  • Let know
  • Acquaint

Apprise Examples in a Sentence

  • Please apprise me of any changes to the schedule.
  • The mayor was apprised of the situation within minutes.
  • The officer apprised the suspect of his rights.
  • I will keep you apprised as the project develops.
  • The lawyer apprised her client of the new deadline.

Appraise vs Apprise: Side-by-Side Comparison

Seeing both words in one place makes the difference clear. Use this table as a quick reference whenever you hesitate.

Feature Appraise Apprise
Meaning To judge value or quality To inform or notify
Core idea Evaluation Communication
Typical object A thing, idea, or person being judged A person being informed
Common pattern Appraise something Apprise someone of something
Pronunciation uh-PRAYZ uh-PRYZE
Related noun Appraisal, appraiser None in common use
Typical setting Real estate, art, insurance, HR Business, law, news, formal email
Sample sentence The expert appraised the watch. The expert apprised us of the result.

Spelling at a Glance

Appraise has the letters “ai” in the second half, like “praise.” Apprise has “ri,” like “rise” and “advise.”

Reading the middle of each word is often enough to catch a mistake.

Why Do People Confuse Appraise and Apprise?

The two words look almost identical, differ by only two letters, and both start with “app.” Their pronunciations are close enough that, in a fast conversation, many listeners cannot tell them apart.

They are also both formal verbs, so they tend to show up in the same serious contexts. That overlap creates a perfect storm for errors.

They Share Roots and Style

Both words came into English from French, which helps explain the similar look. Appraise is linked to the idea of setting a price, while apprise comes from a French word connected to learning and being taught.

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The common French background explains the shared “app” start, but their meanings drifted apart long ago.

They Are Not Homophones Exactly

Many people call them homophones, but they are not perfectly identical in standard American English. Appraise rhymes with “raise,” while apprise rhymes with “prize.”

In casual speech the difference can blur, which is why the spelling error is so common.

The Same Confusion Happens With Other Pairs

English is full of word pairs that look and sound alike. If you enjoy untangling them, you may also like allude vs elude, adapt vs adopt, and adverse vs averse.

Each pair follows the same pattern as appraise and apprise: one small change in spelling makes a big change in meaning.

Appraised vs Apprised: Which One Is Correct?

The past tense forms cause just as many mistakes as the base verbs. Appraised means valued or judged, while apprised means informed.

The shortest way to decide is to ask whether a number, grade, or opinion is involved, or whether someone was told something.

Appraised Examples

  • The house was appraised at a fair market price.
  • The coins were appraised by a specialist.
  • Her work was appraised highly by the review panel.

Apprised Examples

  • The staff was apprised of the new policy.
  • He was apprised of the delay by email.
  • The board stayed apprised of every major decision.

Quick Test for the Past Tense

Replace the word with “valued” and read the sentence. If it still makes sense, appraised is correct.

Now replace it with “informed.” If that works better, apprised is the right choice.

Keep Me Apprised or Keep Me Appraised?

The correct phrase is “keep me apprised.” It means keep me informed and updated.

“Keep me appraised” is a common error, because it would mean keep valuing me, which makes no sense in this setting.

Why Keep Me Apprised Is Correct

The phrase asks someone to inform you as things develop. The verb apprise is about giving information, so apprised is the form that belongs here.

Think of it as a polite way of saying “keep me in the loop.”

Common Variations

  • Please keep me apprised of any updates.
  • Keep us apprised of your progress.
  • I will keep you apprised as things change.
  • Kindly keep the team apprised of the schedule.
  • Stay apprised of new developments.

Incorrect Versions to Avoid

  • Please keep me appraised of the situation.
  • Keep us appraised on the project.
  • I will keep you appraised of any changes.

Apprise Of or Apprise About: Which Preposition Is Right?

The classic pattern is “apprise someone of something.” This is the form you will see in formal writing, and it is the safest choice.

You can also see “apprise someone about something” in everyday usage, and it is understood. Still, “of” sounds more polished.

Common Patterns for Apprise

Pattern Example
Apprise someone of something I will apprise you of the outcome.
Be apprised of something We were apprised of the change.
Keep someone apprised Please keep me apprised.
Apprise someone that She apprised him that the flight was cancelled.

What Not to Do

Do not use apprise without a person to inform. A sentence like “I will apprise the situation” is wrong, because a situation cannot be informed.

If you mean you will evaluate a situation, the correct word is appraise.

Appraise in Real Estate

Real estate is where most people first meet the word appraise. A home appraisal is a professional opinion of a property’s market value.

Lenders usually require one before approving a mortgage, because the home serves as collateral for the loan.

What a Home Appraiser Does

An appraiser visits the property, measures it, and notes its condition and features. They then compare it with similar homes that sold recently in the same area.

The final report states the estimated value, which the lender uses to decide how much it will loan.

Key Real Estate Terms

Term Meaning
Appraisal A professional estimate of a property’s value
Appraiser The licensed professional who prepares the estimate
Appraised value The value stated in the appraisal report
Comparable sales Recent sales of similar nearby homes, often called comps
Appraisal contingency A contract clause that protects the buyer if the value comes in low
Appraisal gap The difference between the sale price and a lower appraised value

Real Estate Sentences With Appraise

  • The lender will appraise the home before closing.
  • We asked a certified appraiser to appraise the property after the renovation.
  • The house appraised for less than the offer price.

Real Estate Sentences With Apprise

  • The agent will apprise the buyers of the appraisal results.
  • Please apprise the seller of the lender’s timeline.
  • The broker kept everyone apprised of each deadline.

Using Both Words in One Sentence

Because both words show up in property deals, they often meet in a single sentence. This is a perfect example of the contrast.

  • The agent will apprise the buyers of how the appraiser decides to appraise the house.

Appraise in Business and Human Resources

In the workplace, appraise often means to evaluate performance. A performance appraisal is a formal review of how well an employee has done their job.

The word is also common in finance, where analysts appraise investments, companies, and risks.

Performance Appraisal Explained

A performance appraisal is a structured meeting or report where a manager reviews an employee’s results. It usually covers goals, strengths, and areas for growth.

Many companies run appraisals once or twice a year. Some prefer the term performance review, which means almost the same thing.

Business Sentences With Appraise

  • The manager will appraise each team member’s progress this quarter.
  • Analysts appraise a company before recommending its stock.
  • We need to appraise the risks before launching the product.

Business Sentences With Apprise

  • The manager will apprise the team of the new targets.
  • Please apprise the finance department of the budget change.
  • The project lead kept stakeholders apprised of every milestone.

Email Examples You Can Copy

  • “I wanted to apprise you of a change to the project timeline.”
  • “Please keep me apprised of any updates from the client.”
  • “Once the review is done, I will apprise the team of the outcome.”

Apprise in Legal and Formal Writing

Apprise is a favorite of lawyers, officials, and journalists. It sounds precise and carries a tone of responsibility.

In legal settings it often means to make sure someone understands their rights, options, or obligations.

Legal Examples

  • The court apprised the defendant of the charges.
  • Police must apprise suspects of their rights.
  • The attorney apprised her client of the settlement terms.

News and Government Examples

  • The governor was apprised of the situation overnight.
  • Officials apprised the public of the safety measures.
  • The committee was fully apprised of the findings.

Why Formal Writing Prefers Apprise

Apprise is slightly more formal than inform or tell. It suggests that the information is important and that the speaker takes care to communicate it properly.

In casual writing, a simple word like “update” often sounds more natural.

Appraise in Art, Antiques, and Insurance

Appraisal is a major part of the art and collectibles world. Experts assess authenticity, condition, rarity, and market demand to set a value.

Insurance companies also rely on appraisals to determine coverage and settle claims.

Art and Antique Examples

  • A specialist will appraise the painting before it goes to auction.
  • The dealer appraised the vintage watch at a high price.
  • She had the family heirloom appraised for insurance.

Insurance Examples

  • An adjuster will appraise the damage to your car.
  • The jewelry was appraised so it could be properly insured.
  • A contractor appraised the roof after the storm.

Why Appraisals Matter

A written appraisal gives you proof of value. That document can be useful for insurance claims, estate planning, sales, and donations.

Appraise Beyond Money: Judging Situations and People

Appraise is not limited to price. It can describe the careful sizing up of something abstract, such as a risk, a mood, or a decision.

When the object is not an item with a price tag, the word still carries the idea of weighing and judging.

Everyday Examples

  • She appraised the situation before speaking.
  • He appraised his options and chose the safer route.
  • The coach appraised the team’s chances honestly.
  • The detective appraised the room with a careful eye.

The Adjective Appraising

Appraising can also describe a look or glance that evaluates someone. An “appraising look” suggests careful, sometimes critical, observation.

Example: She gave the new car an appraising look before she opened the door.

Appraisal vs Apprisal: Is There a Noun for Apprise?

Appraisal is a very common noun, meaning an evaluation or assessment. Apprisal is rarely used in everyday English.

For this reason, if you see “appraisal” in a sentence, it nearly always connects to valuing or judging something.

Appraisal Examples

  • The appraisal arrived two days late.
  • Her honest appraisal of the plan helped the team improve.
  • A fair appraisal considers both strengths and weaknesses.

What to Use Instead of Apprisal

If you need a noun for informing someone, use words such as update, notice, notification, briefing, or report.

  • Weekly update
  • Written notice
  • Daily briefing

Appraise vs Assess vs Evaluate vs Value

These words overlap, and appraise can often be replaced with one of them. Still, each carries a slightly different flavor.

Choosing the right one makes your writing more precise.

Word Best used for Example
Appraise Expert judgment of worth or quality A jeweler appraised the ring.
Assess Measuring or determining the extent of something Inspectors assessed the damage.
Evaluate Judging merit using criteria Teachers evaluate student essays.
Value Setting a price or importance The firm valued the business at a set amount.
Estimate Making an approximate calculation He estimated the repair cost.

When Appraise Is the Best Choice

Choose appraise when an expert is judging value or quality, especially for property, art, or performance. It sounds more formal and official than assess.

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Apprise vs Inform vs Notify vs Update

Apprise can also be swapped with simpler verbs. The right choice depends on tone and formality.

Word Tone Example
Apprise Formal, polished I will apprise you of the results.
Inform Neutral, professional I will inform you of the results.
Notify Official, often written We will notify you by email.
Update Casual to professional I will update you tomorrow.
Tell Casual I will tell you after the meeting.
Brief Operational, structured The captain briefed the crew.

When Apprise Is the Best Choice

Choose apprise when you want a formal, respectful tone, such as in business emails, reports, and official statements.

Apprise vs Apprize: Is Apprize a Word?

You may see apprize in older texts or certain dictionaries as a variant spelling. In modern writing, apprise is the standard spelling and the safest choice.

Using apprise keeps your writing consistent with most style guides.

A Common Typo to Watch For

Another frequent slip is typing “apraise” or “aprise” with a single “p.” Both words need the double “p.”

If spellcheck flags a word in this pair, read the sentence again and decide whether you mean value or inform.

Word Origins: Where Appraise and Apprise Come From

Both words arrived in English through French, which explains the matching start. Their stories split sharply from there.

Knowing the roots gives you one more way to keep them apart.

Origin of Appraise

Appraise is tied to the old idea of setting a price. It shares family ties with words such as “price,” “praise,” and “appreciate,” all of which relate to worth.

That connection helps the meaning stick. When you appraise something, you are deciding how much it deserves.

Origin of Apprise

Apprise comes from a French word connected to learning and teaching, which is why it came to mean giving someone knowledge. Its core idea is to make someone learn about something.

When you apprise a person, you are helping them learn what has happened.

Shared Roots, Different Paths

Word Root idea Modern meaning
Appraise Setting a price Judge value
Apprise Teaching or learning Inform

How to Remember the Difference Between Appraise and Apprise

Memory tricks work best when they are short and a little silly. Pick the one that sticks and use it every time you write one of these words.

Trick 1: Raise the Value

Appraise has “raise” hiding inside its sound. Values can raise or drop, so appraise is about value.

Trick 2: Advise and Apprise

Apprise ends with the same sound as “advise.” Both words are about sharing information with someone.

Trick 3: Praise Is Close to Appraise

Praise is a judgment of how good something is, and appraise is a judgment of how valuable something is. Both words contain “rais.”

Trick 4: Ask the Two Questions

Ask yourself, “Am I judging something or telling someone?” Judging points to appraise, and telling points to apprise.

Trick 5: Read It Aloud

Say the word and listen for the vowel. Appraise sounds like “raise,” while apprise sounds like “prize.”

The Ultimate Cheat Sheet

If you are… Use
Pricing a house Appraise
Grading an essay Appraise
Updating your boss Apprise
Briefing a client Apprise
Sizing up a situation Appraise
Keeping someone in the loop Apprise

Common Mistakes With Appraise and Apprise

Most errors fall into a small number of patterns. Once you know them, you can spot and fix them in seconds.

Mistake 1: Keep Me Appraised

This is the most frequent mistake. The correct phrase is “keep me apprised,” because you want to be informed.

Mistake 2: Apprise a Value

Apprise cannot take a value or object as its target. You cannot apprise a house or a painting.

Wrong: The expert apprised the necklace at a high price. Right: The expert appraised the necklace at a high price.

Mistake 3: Appraise a Person of Something

Appraise does not take the pattern “of.” You do not appraise someone of a fact.

Wrong: Please appraise me of the news. Right: Please apprise me of the news.

Mistake 4: Using the Wrong Noun

The noun for an evaluation is appraisal. Do not write “apprisal” unless you have a very specific reason.

Mistake 5: Relying on Spellcheck

Both words are real, so spellcheck will usually accept either one. You must check the meaning yourself.

Correct and Incorrect Examples Table

Incorrect Correct
Keep me appraised of the project. Keep me apprised of the project.
The agent apprised the house at a high value. The agent appraised the house at a high value.
Please appraise me of the delay. Please apprise me of the delay.
He was appraised of his rights. He was apprised of his rights.
The jeweler apprised the ring. The jeweler appraised the ring.

Spelling Slips That Look Like This One

Appraise and apprise belong to a large family of tricky spellings. Learning one often helps you spot others.

If you want to sharpen your instincts, try these related guides. Receive vs recieve explains the famous “i before e” trap, and weird vs wierd covers another classic exception.

Writers who mix up sound-alike words may also enjoy speech vs speach, input vs imput, and encorporate vs incorporate.

Other Look-Alike Word Pairs Worth Knowing

If appraise and apprise tripped you up, these pairs probably will too. Each has its own simple rule.

Punctuation and Grammar Notes That Often Appear Alongside

Writers who struggle with word choice often face punctuation questions too. A few quick pointers can polish the rest of your writing.

For apostrophes, see parents’ vs parent’s, today’s vs todays, and else’s vs elses.

If subject and verb agreement is your sticking point, people do or people does answers a classic question.

Practice Exercises: Appraise or Apprise?

Testing yourself is the fastest way to lock in the difference. Fill in each blank with appraise, apprised, appraised, or apprise.

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blank

  1. The bank will ______ the property before approving the loan.
  2. Please keep me ______ of any changes to the schedule.
  3. The antique dealer ______ the clock at a surprising price.
  4. The manager wants to ______ the team of the new policy.
  5. An expert will ______ the damage after the storm.
  6. The jury was ______ of the judge’s instructions.
  7. She gave the stranger an ______ glance.
  8. Can you ______ me of the results by Friday?

Answers

  1. appraise
  2. apprised
  3. appraised
  4. apprise
  5. appraise
  6. apprised
  7. appraising
  8. apprise

Exercise 2: Correct the Sentence

Rewrite each sentence so it uses the right word.

  1. The agent apprised the house at a fair price.
  2. Please keep me appraised of the situation.
  3. He was appraised of his rights by the officer.

Answers

  1. The agent appraised the house at a fair price.
  2. Please keep me apprised of the situation.
  3. He was apprised of his rights by the officer.

A Simple Editing Checklist for Writers

Before you hit send or publish, run a quick check on any sentence that contains one of these words. It takes only a few seconds.

  1. Is a value, grade, or opinion being formed? Use appraise.
  2. Is a person being told something? Use apprise.
  3. Does the sentence say “keep me ____”? Use apprised.
  4. Does the sentence include “of” after the verb? Use apprise.
  5. Does the sentence describe an expert’s valuation? Use appraise or appraisal.

Tips for Professional Writing

  • Use apprise when you want a formal tone, and inform when you want a plain one
  • Use appraise when an expert judgment is involved
  • Avoid both words in casual messages if a simpler verb works better
  • Read the sentence aloud to catch awkward errors

Appraise and Apprise in American vs British English

Both words are used the same way in American and British English. The spelling and meaning do not change across regions.

Only the style differs slightly. British English may use “appraisal” more often in the workplace, while American English uses it often in real estate.

Regional Notes

Region Common use of appraise Common use of apprise
United States Home and property appraisals Business and legal updates
United Kingdom Staff appraisals and valuations Formal letters and briefings
Global business English Performance and investment review Updating stakeholders

Why Using the Right Word Matters

Small word choices shape how professional you sound. A single mix-up can confuse a reader or weaken a message.

In real estate, law, and business, accuracy is not just a matter of style. It can affect how people understand a contract, a report, or a deadline.

Benefits of Using Each Word Correctly

  • Clearer emails and reports
  • More credibility with clients and managers
  • Fewer misunderstandings in legal and financial documents
  • Stronger writing in exams and applications
  • Greater confidence when speaking and writing formally

Also Read:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the difference between appraise and apprise?

Appraise means to judge the value or quality of something. Apprise means to inform or notify someone.

Is it keep me apprised or keep me appraised?

The correct phrase is “keep me apprised.” It means keep me informed, not keep me valued.

How do you pronounce appraise and apprise?

Appraise is pronounced uh-PRAYZ and rhymes with “raise.” Apprise is pronounced uh-PRYZE and rhymes with “prize.”

Are appraise and apprise homophones?

Not exactly, because their vowel sounds differ in standard speech. They sound close enough that many people mix them up.

What does appraise mean in real estate?

It means a professional estimates a property’s market value. Lenders usually require an appraisal before approving a mortgage.

What does apprise mean in a sentence?

It means to give someone information, as in “Please apprise me of any changes.” The person informed is the object of the verb.

What is an example of appraise?

“The jeweler will appraise the ring.” The sentence shows an expert judging the worth of an object.

What is an example of apprise?

“The manager apprised the team of the new schedule.” The team received information.

Is apprise a formal word?

Yes, apprise is more formal than inform or tell. It fits business emails, legal writing, and official statements.

What is the noun form of appraise?

The noun is appraisal, and the person who does it is an appraiser. Both are common in real estate and insurance.

Is there a noun form of apprise?

There is no common everyday noun. Writers use words such as update, notice, or briefing instead.

Can you appraise a person?

Yes, you can appraise someone’s performance or abilities. In the workplace this is often called a performance appraisal.

Do you apprise someone of or about something?

“Of” is the classic and most formal choice, as in “apprise me of the details.” “About” is understood but sounds less polished.

What does apprised of mean?

It means informed about something. For example, “She was apprised of the schedule change.”

Is apprize a correct spelling?

Apprize is an older variant, but apprise is the standard spelling in modern writing. Stick with apprise.

What is the easiest way to remember appraise vs apprise?

Link appraise to “raise” and value, and link apprise to “advise” and informing. Ask whether you are judging something or telling someone.

Conclusion

Appraise vs apprise comes down to one question: are you judging something or informing someone? Appraise means to assess value or quality, while apprise means to notify a person about something.

Remember the quick links. Appraise rhymes with raise and belongs to valuations, grades, and reviews. Apprise rhymes with prize, sits close to advise, and belongs to updates and briefings.

Use “keep me apprised,” “apprised of,” and “appraised at” with confidence. Check the vowel sound, check the object of the sentence, and run the replacement test with “valued” or “informed” before you publish.

With a little practice, these two look-alike verbs become easy. Each correct choice makes your writing clearer, sharper, and more professional.

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