Appraise vs. Apprise
“Appraise” means to examine and judge the quality, condition, needs, success, or value of something. “Apprise” is a formal verb meaning to inform someone about something, commonly in the pattern “apprise someone of something.”
Use “appraise” for evaluate or assess. Use “apprise” for inform or notify: you can appraise a situation, but you apprise someone of the situation.
Key details
Choose the right form
| Intended action | Use | Construction cue |
|---|---|---|
| evaluate or assess | appraise | appraise the property / situation |
| inform or notify | apprise | apprise someone of the change |
Quick tests
Substitution test
Could “evaluate” replace the verb without changing the meaning?
If yes: Use “appraise.”
If no: If “inform/notify” fits, use “apprise,” commonly with a person + “of.”
Caveat: The verbs are similar in spelling but have different meanings and common object patterns.
Examples
The valuer will appraise the property tomorrow.
“Appraise” means evaluate or assess.
Please apprise the team of the revised schedule.
“Apprise” means inform.
Please appraise the team of the revised schedule.
Better: Please apprise the team of the revised schedule.
The intended meaning is “inform,” so use “apprise.”
Further guidance
Construction Cue
“Apprise” commonly takes a person as its object followed by “of”: “apprise the team of the change.” “Appraise” normally takes the thing, situation, performance, property, or need being evaluated.
Core difference
The verbs are close in spelling but not meaning. “Appraise” concerns evaluation; “apprise” concerns communication of information.
Fast Test
If “evaluate” fits, choose appraise. If “inform” or “notify” fits, choose apprise.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- Appraise — Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press · Meaning and grammatical role of appraise
- Apprise — Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press · Meaning, register and construction of apprise