Distinguishing between “appraise” and “apprise” can be tricky for English language learners and even native speakers. These words, though similar in spelling and pronunciation, have distinct meanings and usages. Misusing them can lead to confusion and miscommunication. This article will provide a comprehensive guide to understanding the difference between “appraise” and “apprise,” covering their definitions, examples, usage rules, common mistakes, and practice exercises. Whether you’re a student, writer, or simply someone looking to improve their English grammar, this guide will help you master these often-confused words.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Definitions: Appraise and Apprise
- Structural Breakdown
- Types and Categories
- Examples of Appraise and Apprise
- Usage Rules
- Common Mistakes
- Practice Exercises
- Advanced Topics
- FAQ
- Conclusion
Definitions: Appraise and Apprise
To effectively use “appraise” and “apprise,” it’s crucial to understand their distinct meanings. While they may sound alike, they serve different functions in conveying information.
Appraise
Appraise means to assess the value or quality of something. It often involves a formal evaluation, especially of property or assets. The word is derived from the Old French word “aprisier,” meaning “to set a price on.” Appraising often involves expert judgment and can be crucial in financial transactions, insurance claims, and other situations where determining worth is essential. The core concept revolves around assigning a value, whether monetary or qualitative.
Apprise
Apprise means to inform or notify someone about something. It involves conveying information, often of importance or urgency. The word comes from the Old French word “aprendre,” meaning “to learn.” When you apprise someone, you are essentially making them aware of a particular fact, situation, or development. It focuses on the act of informing rather than evaluating. The core concept revolves around communication and knowledge transfer.
Structural Breakdown
Both “appraise” and “apprise” are verbs, and their usage follows standard verb conjugation rules. They can be used in various tenses (present, past, future) and voices (active, passive). Understanding their verb forms is essential for constructing grammatically correct sentences.
Appraise typically takes a direct object, which is the thing being evaluated. For example, “The jeweler appraised the diamond.” The verb “appraised” acts upon the direct object “the diamond.”
Apprise also takes a direct object, which is the person being informed. It is often followed by the preposition “of” and the information being conveyed. For example, “The manager apprised the team of the project’s status.” Here, “the team” is the direct object, and “of the project’s status” provides the information.
Both verbs can be used in different tenses:
- Present tense: I appraise / I apprise
- Past tense: I appraised / I apprised
- Future tense: I will appraise / I will apprise
- Present perfect: I have appraised / I have apprised
- Past perfect: I had appraised / I had apprised
Types and Categories
While “appraise” and “apprise” don’t have distinct types or categories in the same way that, say, nouns or adjectives do, their usage can be categorized by the context in which they appear.
Appraise is often used in contexts related to:
- Real estate: Appraising a house for sale.
- Art and collectibles: Appraising a painting or antique.
- Jewelry: Appraising the value of a diamond.
- Business: Appraising assets for accounting purposes.
- Performance reviews: Appraising an employee’s performance.
Apprise is commonly used in contexts related to:
- News and current events: Apprising the public of a new development.
- Business communication: Apprising stakeholders of a project update.
- Legal matters: Apprising a client of their rights.
- Personal communication: Apprising a friend of important news.
- Emergency situations: Apprising residents of an impending storm.
Examples of Appraise and Apprise
The best way to solidify your understanding of “appraise” and “apprise” is to examine them in various contexts. The following tables provide numerous examples to illustrate their correct usage.
Appraise Examples
The following table provides several examples of the verb “appraise” in different contexts. Note how each sentence involves an assessment of value or quality.
| Sentence | Context |
|---|---|
| The bank hired an expert to appraise the property before approving the loan. | Real estate |
| The auction house will appraise the painting to determine its estimated value. | Art |
| A gemologist appraised the diamond ring and provided a certificate of authenticity. | Jewelry |
| The company’s accountants must appraise its assets annually for financial reporting. | Business |
| The manager will appraise each employee’s performance during the annual review process. | Performance |
| Before selling the antique furniture, they had it appraised by a specialist. | Antiques |
| The insurance company sent an adjuster to appraise the damage to the car. | Insurance |
| The museum curator appraised the historical significance of the artifact. | History |
| The art collector needed to appraise his collection for insurance purposes. | Art Collection |
| The rare coin was appraised at a value of over $10,000. | Numismatics |
| The professor appraised the student’s essay and provided constructive feedback. | Academics |
| She asked the jeweler to appraise the necklace she inherited from her grandmother. | Inheritance |
| The appraiser carefully examined the house to appraise its market value. | Real Estate |
| The committee will appraise the candidates based on their qualifications and experience. | Hiring |
| The system is designed to appraise the risks associated with each investment. | Finance |
| The critic appraised the new play as a masterpiece of modern theater. | Theater |
| The valuer appraised the business before it was sold to a competitor. | Business Valuation |
| The antique dealer appraised the vase before putting it up for auction. | Antiques |
| The school board will appraise the effectiveness of the new educational program. | Education |
| The wine connoisseur expertly appraised the vintage of the rare bottle. | Wine |
| The assessor will appraise the building for tax purposes. | Taxation |
| The expert appraised the manuscript to determine its authenticity. | Manuscripts |
| They hired a consultant to appraise the company’s operations. | Consulting |
| The committee appraised the proposal and decided to fund the project. | Proposals |
| The jeweler appraised the watch and determined that it was a valuable piece. | Timepieces |
Apprise Examples
The following table provides examples of the verb “apprise” in use. Notice how each sentence involves informing someone of something.
| Sentence | Context |
|---|---|
| The doctor will apprise the patient of the test results as soon as they are available. | Medical |
| The lawyer apprised his client of their legal rights and options. | Legal |
| The CEO apprised the shareholders of the company’s financial performance during the annual meeting. | Business |
| The police officer apprised the suspect of their Miranda rights. | Law enforcement |
| Please apprise me of any changes to the project timeline as soon as possible. | Project management |
| The embassy will apprise its citizens of any travel advisories or safety concerns. | Travel |
| The teacher apprised the parents of the upcoming school events and activities. | Education |
| The news anchor apprised the viewers of the latest developments in the ongoing investigation. | News |
| The general apprised the troops of the new strategy before the mission. | Military |
| The human resources department will apprise employees of the new company policies. | HR |
| The secretary apprised the director of the urgent phone call. | Office Administration |
| The pilot apprised the passengers of the turbulence ahead. | Aviation |
| The software company apprised its users of the security breach. | Technology |
| The weather service apprised residents of the impending hurricane. | Weather |
| The investigator apprised the family of the details surrounding the accident. | Investigations |
| The supervisor apprised the staff of the new procedures. | Workplace |
| The government agency apprised the public of the new regulations. | Government |
| The accountant apprised the client of the tax implications of the transaction. | Accounting |
| The counselor apprised the student of the available resources. | Counseling |
| The librarian apprised the visitor of the library’s policies. | Library |
| The lifeguard apprised the swimmers of the strong current. | Safety |
| The tour guide apprised the travelers of the local customs. | Tourism |
| The scientist apprised the community of the research findings. | Science |
| The landlord apprised the tenant of the necessary repairs. | Landlord-Tenant |
| The coach apprised the team of the opponent’s strengths. | Sports |
Usage Rules
To use “appraise” and “apprise” correctly, it’s essential to understand the specific rules that govern their usage. Here’s a breakdown of the key rules for each word:
Appraise Usage Rules
- Appraise always involves an evaluation or assessment.
- The object of “appraise” is the thing being evaluated.
- “Appraise” can be used in contexts related to value, quality, or significance.
- It often implies expert knowledge or a formal process.
Examples:
- Correct: The jeweler appraised the necklace.
- Correct: The manager appraised the employee’s performance.
- Incorrect: The manager appraised the employee of the new policy. (Use “apprised” instead)
Apprise Usage Rules
- Apprise always involves informing someone of something.
- The object of “apprise” is the person being informed.
- It is often followed by the preposition “of” and the information being conveyed.
- “Apprise” often implies important or urgent information.
Examples:
- Correct: The doctor apprised the patient of the diagnosis.
- Correct: Please apprise me of any changes.
- Incorrect: The doctor apprised the patient’s health. (Use “appraised” if assessing health)
Common Mistakes
The similar spelling and pronunciation of “appraise” and “apprise” often lead to common mistakes. Here are some frequent errors and how to correct them:
| Incorrect | Correct | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| The realtor apprised the house before listing it. | The realtor appraised the house before listing it. | “Appraise” is used to evaluate the value of the house. |
| The manager appraised the team of the new deadlines. | The manager apprised the team of the new deadlines. | “Apprise” is used to inform the team about the deadlines. |
| I need to get my jewelry apprised for insurance purposes. | I need to get my jewelry appraised for insurance purposes. | “Appraised” is the correct form for evaluating value. |
| She apprised the situation and made a quick decision. | She appraised the situation and made a quick decision. | “Appraised” is correct when assessing a situation. |
Practice Exercises
Test your understanding of “appraise” and “apprise” with the following exercises. Choose the correct word to complete each sentence.
Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1. The expert will ________ the value of the antique vase. | appraise |
| 2. The lawyer ________ his client of their rights. | apprised |
| 3. Please ________ me of any updates on the project. | apprise |
| 4. The company hired a consultant to ________ their marketing strategy. | appraise |
| 5. The doctor ________ the patient of the risks of the surgery. | apprised |
| 6. Before selling the car, he needed to ________ its condition. | appraise |
| 7. The supervisor ________ the team of the new safety guidelines. | apprised |
| 8. The bank will ________ the property before approving the mortgage. | appraise |
| 9. The journalist ________ the public of the latest news. | apprised |
| 10. The art collector had his painting ________ by a specialist. | appraised |
Exercise 2: Correct the Sentence
Identify and correct the errors in the following sentences.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1. The manager appraised the staff of the meeting time. | The manager apprised the staff of the meeting time. |
| 2. She needed to apprise her jewelry for insurance. | She needed to appraise her jewelry for insurance. |
| 3. The inspector apprised the building for safety hazards. | The inspector appraised the building for safety hazards. |
| 4. The HR department apprised the employees’ performance. | The HR department appraised the employees’ performance. |
| 5. The news reporter appraised the viewers of the developing story. | The news reporter apprised the viewers of the developing story. |
| 6. The real estate agent apprised the value of the land. | The real estate agent appraised the value of the land. |
| 7. We must apprise the board of the financial situation. | Correct. |
| 8. He was asked to appraise the artwork’s authenticity. | Correct. |
| 9. The committee apprised the proposals before making a decision. | The committee appraised the proposals before making a decision. |
| 10. The pilot apprised the passengers’ of the landing conditions. | The pilot apprised the passengers of the landing conditions. |
Advanced Topics
For advanced learners, it’s helpful to understand the nuances and subtleties of “appraise” and “apprise.” This includes exploring their usage in formal writing and understanding their connotations.
In formal writing, “apprise” is often preferred over simpler alternatives like “inform” or “notify.” It adds a level of sophistication and formality to the language. Similarly, “appraise” is favored when a precise or expert evaluation is required.
Both words can also carry subtle connotations. “Appraise” can imply a critical assessment, while “apprise” can suggest the delivery of important or confidential information.
FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions about “appraise” and “apprise”:
What is the main difference between “appraise” and “apprise”?
The main difference is that “appraise” means to evaluate or assess the value of something, while “apprise” means to inform someone of something. “Appraise” focuses on assessment, while “apprise” focuses on communication.
When should I use “appraise”?
Use “appraise” when you want to describe the act of evaluating the value, quality, or significance of something. This is common in real estate, art, business, and performance reviews.
When should I use “apprise”?
Use “apprise” when you want to describe the act of informing someone about something. This is common in news, business communication, legal matters, and personal communication.
Is it correct to say “appraise someone of something”?
No, it is incorrect. The correct usage is “apprise someone of something.” “Appraise” takes the object being evaluated, not the person.
What is the origin of the words “appraise” and “apprise”?
“Appraise” comes from the Old French word “aprisier,” meaning “to set a price on.” “Apprise” comes from the Old French word “aprendre,” meaning “to learn.”
Can “appraise” be used in a figurative sense?
Yes, “appraise” can be used figuratively to mean to assess or evaluate something in a non-literal sense. For example, “He appraised the situation and made a quick decision.”
What are some synonyms for “appraise”?
Synonyms for “appraise” include evaluate, assess, estimate, value, and judge.
What are some synonyms for “apprise”?
Synonyms for “apprise” include inform, notify, advise, tell, and acquaint.
Conclusion
Understanding the difference between “appraise” and “apprise” is crucial for effective communication in English. While these words may sound similar, they have distinct meanings and usages. “Appraise” is used to evaluate or assess the value of something, while “apprise” is used to inform someone of something. By mastering these concepts and practicing their usage, you can avoid common mistakes and enhance your overall language skills. Remember to always consider the context and intended meaning when choosing between these two words. With consistent effort and attention to detail, you can confidently use “appraise” and “apprise” in your writing and speaking.