English, with its rich history and diverse influences, often presents us with words that sound similar but carry distinct meanings. Among these tricky pairs are “appraise” and “apprise.” While both words involve evaluation or communication, their specific applications differ significantly.
Mastering the nuances between “appraise” and “apprise” is crucial for clear and precise communication, both in writing and speech. This article aims to provide a comprehensive guide to understanding the difference between these two words, offering definitions, examples, usage rules, and practice exercises to solidify your understanding.
Whether you’re a student, a professional, or simply an English language enthusiast, this guide will equip you with the knowledge to use “appraise” and “apprise” confidently and correctly.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Definitions: Appraise vs. Apprise
- Structural Breakdown
- Usage Contexts
- Examples
- Usage Rules
- Common Mistakes
- Practice Exercises
- Advanced Topics
- FAQ
- Conclusion
Definitions: Appraise vs. Apprise
The key to differentiating “appraise” and “apprise” lies in understanding their core meanings. “Appraise” relates to assessing value, while “apprise” involves informing someone of something.
Let’s delve into each word’s definition and usage in detail.
Appraise: Definition and Usage
Appraise (verb) means to assess the value, quality, or status of something. It involves making a judgment, often an expert one, about worth. This can relate to physical objects, skills, or even situations. The act of appraising often involves a formal evaluation process.
The word “appraise” is often used in contexts related to real estate, art, antiques, or performance reviews. It implies a careful examination and an informed opinion.
Apprise: Definition and Usage
Apprise (verb) means to inform or tell someone about something. It involves conveying information, often of a somewhat formal or important nature. While “inform” is a more common synonym, “apprise” suggests a level of seriousness or officialdom.
The use of “apprise” often appears in formal communication, such as legal documents, official reports, or business correspondence. It suggests that the information being conveyed is significant and requires attention.
Structural Breakdown
Both “appraise” and “apprise” are verbs, and as such, they follow the standard verb conjugation rules in English. They can be used in various tenses (present, past, future) and forms (simple, continuous, perfect).
The structural difference lies primarily in their usage within a sentence.
Appraise: Typically followed by a direct object (the thing being evaluated) and sometimes a prepositional phrase indicating the criteria for evaluation. For example: “The jeweler appraised the diamond for its clarity.”
Apprise: Usually followed by a direct object (the person being informed) and often a prepositional phrase beginning with “of” indicating the information being conveyed. For example: “The manager apprised the team of the upcoming changes.”
Usage Contexts
Understanding the typical contexts in which each word is used can further clarify their differences. “Appraise” often appears in situations involving valuation and assessment, while “apprise” is commonly found in formal communication scenarios.
Appraise: Real estate transactions (appraising a property), art and antique dealing (appraising a painting), human resources (appraising employee performance), insurance claims (appraising damage). The key idea is determining worth or value.
Apprise: Legal proceedings (apprising someone of their rights), business meetings (apprising colleagues of project updates), official announcements (apprising the public of new regulations), emergency situations (apprising residents of potential dangers). The central theme is conveying information, often of importance.
Examples
To solidify your understanding, let’s explore numerous examples of “appraise” and “apprise” used in various sentences.
Appraise Examples
The following table provides examples of “appraise” in different contexts. Notice how it always relates to assessing value or quality.
| Sentence | Context |
|---|---|
| The expert was called in to appraise the value of the antique clock. | Valuation of an antique |
| The manager will appraise each employee’s performance annually. | Employee performance review |
| An independent appraiser estimated the house’s worth at $500,000. | Real estate valuation |
| The insurance company sent someone to appraise the damage to the car. | Damage assessment |
| The art collector asked the gallery owner to appraise the painting. | Art valuation |
| Before buying the used car, he had a mechanic appraise its condition. | Condition assessment |
| The committee will appraise the proposals based on their feasibility. | Proposal evaluation |
| She tried to appraise the situation before making a decision. | Situation assessment |
| The coach will appraise the team’s strengths and weaknesses. | Team assessment |
| The bank required an appraisal of the property before approving the loan. | Property valuation for loan approval |
| The teacher carefully appraised each student’s progress. | Student progress. |
| He appraised the risks involved in the business venture. | Business risk assessment |
| The judge had to appraise the credibility of the witness. | Witness credibility assessment |
| She appraised his skills during the interview process. | Skills assesment during interview process |
| The appraiser carefully checked to appraise the authenticity of the document. | Document authentication. |
| The company needs to appraise its current marketing strategies. | Marketing strategies assessment. |
| The historian tried to appraise the impact of the war. | War impact assessment. |
| The museum curator appraised the artifacts. | Artifacts valuation. |
| The CEO had to appraise the company’s financial position. | Company’s financial position assessment. |
| The student learned to appraise the quality of research sources. | Research source quality assessment. |
| The jeweler appraised the gemstone’s cut, clarity, and carat weight. | Gemstone valuation. |
| The investor hired an analyst to appraise the potential of the startup. | Startup potential assessment. |
| The literary critic appraised the novel’s themes and characters. | Novel elements valuation. |
| The scientist appraised the data collected during the experiment. | Experiment data valuation. |
| The board of directors will appraise the CEO’s performance at the end of the year. | CEO’s performance assesment. |
Apprise Examples
The following table illustrates the use of “apprise” in sentences where the focus is on informing someone of something.
| Sentence | Context |
|---|---|
| Please apprise me of any changes to the schedule. | Requesting information about schedule changes |
| The lawyer apprised his client of their legal rights. | Informing someone of their rights |
| The doctor apprised the patient of the test results. | Conveying medical information |
| The police apprised the family of the accident. | Informing family about an accident |
| The manager apprised the team of the new company policy. | Announcing a new policy |
| I will apprise you of the situation as soon as I have more information. | Promising to provide updates |
| The government apprised the public of the impending storm. | Warning the public about a storm |
| The teacher apprised the parents of their child’s progress. | Informing parents about a child’s progress |
| The CEO apprised the shareholders of the company’s financial performance. | Reporting financial performance |
| The embassy apprised its citizens of the travel advisory. | Issuing a travel warning |
| The witness was apprised of the consequences of perjury. | Consequences of perjury. |
| The committee was apprised of the budget constraints. | Budget constraints. |
| The general apprised the troops of the battle plan. | Battle Plan. |
| The news agency apprised the world of the political unrest. | Political unrest. |
| The detective apprised the suspect of his Miranda rights. | Miranda rights. |
| The organization apprised its members of the upcoming elections. | Upcoming elections. |
| The scientist apprised the public of the latest research findings. | Research findings. |
| The social worker apprised the family of available resources. | Available resources. |
| The librarian apprised the student of the library’s policies. | Library’s policies. |
| The counselor apprised the client of the therapy options. | Therapy options. |
| The supervisor apprised the intern of the project’s goals. | Project’s goals. |
| The investigator apprised the victim of the case progress. | Case Progress. |
| The advisor apprised the student of the graduation requirements. | Graduation requirements. |
| The instructor apprised the class of the assignment deadlines. | Assignment deadlines. |
| The guide apprised the tourists of the local customs. | Local customs. |
Usage Rules
While the definitions and examples provide a good foundation, let’s formalize the usage rules for “appraise” and “apprise.”
Rules for Using “Appraise”
- Focus on Value: Use “appraise” when the primary action is to determine the worth, quality, or condition of something.
- Direct Object: “Appraise” typically takes a direct object, which is the thing being evaluated.
- Optional Prepositional Phrases: You can add prepositional phrases (often with “for” or “on”) to specify the criteria used for the appraisal.
- Expert Opinion: The act of appraising often implies expertise or specialized knowledge.
Rules for Using “Apprise”
- Focus on Information: Use “apprise” when the main action is to inform someone of something.
- Direct Object (Person): “Apprise” takes a direct object that is the person being informed.
- Prepositional Phrase with “of”: “Apprise” is almost always followed by a prepositional phrase beginning with “of,” which indicates the information being conveyed.
- Formal Tone: “Apprise” is generally used in more formal contexts than its synonym “inform.”
Common Mistakes
The similarity in spelling between “appraise” and “apprise” leads to frequent errors. Here are some common mistakes and how to avoid them:
| Incorrect | Correct | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| The realtor apprised the house for $300,000. | The realtor appraised the house for $300,000. | “Appraise” is used to assess value, not “apprise.” |
| The manager appraised the team of the new project. | The manager apprised the team of the new project. | “Apprise” is used to inform someone, not “appraise.” |
| I need to apprise the value of my car. | I need to appraise the value of my car. | “Appraise” is used to assess value. |
| She wanted to appraise him of her decision. | She wanted to apprise him of her decision. | “Apprise” is used to inform someone. |
| The expert apprised the painting’s authenticity. | The expert appraised the painting’s authenticity. | “Appraise” is used to assess authenticity (a form of value). |
Practice Exercises
Test your understanding with these practice exercises. Answers are provided below each exercise.
Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks
Fill in the blanks with the correct word: “appraise” or “apprise.”
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1. The jeweler will _______ the diamond’s worth. | appraise |
| 2. The lawyer will _______ you of your rights. | apprise |
| 3. The inspector came to _______ the damage to the building. | appraise |
| 4. The supervisor will _______ the team of the meeting time. | apprise |
| 5. We need to _______ the situation before making a decision. | appraise |
| 6. The CEO will _______ the board of the company’s progress. | apprise |
| 7. The teacher will _______ each student’s efforts. | appraise |
| 8. The consultant will _______ the company’s marketing strategy. | appraise |
| 9. I will _______ you of any updates on this project. | apprise |
| 10. The museum curator will _______ the artifacts’ value. | appraise |
Exercise 2: Sentence Correction
Correct the sentences below, which may contain errors in the use of “appraise” or “apprise.” If the sentence is already correct, write “Correct.”
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1. The accountant apprised the assets of the company. | The accountant appraised the assets of the company. |
| 2. The doctor appraised the patient of the risks of the surgery. | The doctor apprised the patient of the risks of the surgery. |
| 3. The manager will apprise the employee’s performance next week. | The manager will appraise the employee’s performance next week. |
| 4. The general apprised the soldiers about the mission. | The general apprised the soldiers of the mission. |
| 5. The jeweler apprised the diamond’s clarity and cut. | The jeweler appraised the diamond’s clarity and cut. |
| 6. The witness was apprised of the consequences of lying under oath. | Correct |
| 7. The committee will apprise the proposals’ feasibility. | The committee will appraise the proposals’ feasibility. |
| 8. The landlord apprised the tenants of the rent increase. | Correct |
| 9. The professor wants to apprise the students’ understanding. | The professor wants to appraise the students’ understanding. |
| 10. The chef apprised the kitchen staff about the new menu. | The chef apprised the kitchen staff of the new menu. |
Advanced Topics
For advanced learners, let’s consider some more nuanced aspects of using “appraise” and “apprise.”
Formal vs. Informal Usage
While “appraise” can be used in both formal and informal contexts (although it often implies a degree of formality due to the valuation aspect), “apprise” is almost exclusively reserved for formal communication. In informal settings, “inform” or “tell” are generally preferred over “apprise.”
Consider these examples:
- Formal: The board of directors was apprised of the CEO’s resignation.
- Informal: I told them about the CEO leaving. (Instead of: I apprised them of the CEO’s resignation.)
Choosing the right word depends on the audience and the context of the communication. In doubt, favor “inform” in casual situations.
FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions about the difference between “appraise” and “apprise.”
- Q: Is it ever correct to use “apprise” when talking about value?
A: No, “apprise” always relates to informing someone of something. If you’re discussing value or worth, “appraise” is the correct word.
- Q: Can I use “inform” instead of “apprise”?
A: Yes, “inform” is a more common and generally acceptable substitute for “apprise,” especially in informal contexts. “Apprise” adds a layer of formality and is often used when conveying important information.
- Q: What’s the difference between “assess” and “appraise”?
A: While “assess” and “appraise” are similar, “appraise” often implies a more formal or expert evaluation, especially one that determines monetary value. “Assess” is a broader term that can refer to any kind of evaluation or judgment.
- Q: How can I remember the difference between these two words?
A: Think of “appraise” as relating to “praise” (which is related to value or worth) and “apprise” as relating to “rise” (as in information coming to the surface to be known).
- Q: Is “apprising” a commonly used word?
A: Not particularly. The verb “to apprise” is more common than its present participle form “apprising”. It’s mostly used in formal or legal contexts.
- Q: Can “appraise” be used figuratively?
A: Yes, “appraise” can be used figuratively to mean assessing a situation or person’s qualities, not just their monetary value. For instance, “She appraised the situation carefully before responding.”
- Q: What prepositions are commonly used with “appraise” and “apprise”?
A: “Appraise” is often followed by “for” (e.g., appraise for its clarity) or “at” (e.g., appraise at $500,000). “Apprise” is almost always followed by “of” (e.g., apprise someone of the situation).
- Q: Are there any synonyms for “appraise” and “apprise” that are easier to remember?
A: For “appraise,” synonyms include “evaluate,” “assess,” “estimate,” and “value.” For “apprise,” synonyms include “inform,” “notify,” “advise,” and “tell.”
Conclusion
Understanding the difference between “appraise” and “apprise” is essential for precise and effective communication. “Appraise” focuses on assessing value, while “apprise” centers on informing someone of something.
By mastering the definitions, usage rules, and common mistakes associated with these words, you can enhance your writing and speaking skills. Remember to consider the context and audience when choosing between these two similar-sounding words.
With practice and attention to detail, you can confidently use “appraise” and “apprise” correctly in any situation.