Appraise or Apprise?

People will often use the verb to appraise when they mean to apprise. (This rarely happens the other way around, i.e., using apprise instead of appraise.)

This mistake occurs because some writers are unaware that to apprise even exists.

Appraise

The verb to appraise means to assess or to evaluate.

Here are some examples with appraise:

• We inspect and appraise pre-owned vehicles.
(We assess/evaluate pre-owned vehicles.)
• Managers appraise their subordinates against objectives set in their terms of reference.
(Managers assess/evaluate their subordinates.)

Apprise

The verb to apprise means to inform or to notify.

Here are some examples with apprise:

• Please apprise the patient of the outcome of yesterday's meeting.
(Please inform/notify/tell the patient.)
• Managers appraise their subordinates of objectives in the terms of reference.
(This should be apprise their subordinates of objectives, i.e., notify them.)