appraise and apprise - the difference

Free grammar tips, lessons and tests			Recommended purchases
This site: Grammar Monster on line	Daily tips with Grammar Monster's gadget	Daily tips with Grammar Monster on Twitter	The best grammar reference books	Grammar Monster off line	The only grammar checker we'll endorse
Common grammar errors Easily confused words Grammar terms & definitions Grammar tests Grammar lessons Search this site

APPRAISE / APPRISE

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 'to inform' or 'to notify'.

Examples:

Please apprise the patient of 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'.

Associated lessons:

What are verbs?
List of easily confused words