The difference between appraise and apprise (grammar lesson)


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Appraise means 'to assess'. Apprise means 'to inform'.

Many use the verb 'appraise' when they mean 'apprise'. This rarely happens the other way round (i.e., using 'apprise' instead of 'appraise'.)

Appraise

The verb 'to appraise' means 'to assess' or 'to evaluate'.

Examples:

We inspect and appraise pre-owned vehicles.

(assess/evaluate pre-own vehicles)

Managers appraise their subordinates against objectives set in the terms of reference.

(assess/evaluate their subordinates)

Apprise

The verb 'to apprise' means 'to inform' or 'to notify'.

Examples:

Please apprise the patient of the outcome of yesterday's meeting.

(inform/notify/tell the patient)

Managers appraise their subordinates of objectives in the terms of
reference.

(should be apprise their subordinates of objectives, i.e., notify them)

Select the correct version:

APPRISE IS COMMON

This error occurs because many are unaware that the verb 'to apprise' even exists. Well, it does. In fact, in business writing, it's marginally more common than 'to appraise'.