Ever found yourself staring at apprised vs appraised and wondering which word belongs in your sentence? You’re certainly not alone. These two words look remarkably similar, yet they carry completely different meanings. Apprised means informed or made aware of something, while appraised means evaluated, assessed, or assigned a value. In other words, when someone keeps you updated, you stay apprised. When an expert evaluates a house, painting, or antique, the expert appraises it. One small spelling difference can create a surprisingly big meaning mix-up. Fortunately, the distinction is easy to master. Let’s clear up the confusion, explore their proper uses, and make these tricky words easier to remember.
Apprised vs Appraised The Basic Difference
The easiest way to understand the difference is to connect each word with one main idea.
Apprised relates to information. It means that someone informs, notifies, briefs, or makes another person aware of something.
Appraised relates to evaluation. It means that someone examines a person or thing to assess its quality, condition, effectiveness, worth, or value.
In simple terms, when you give someone important information, you apprise them. When you carefully evaluate something, you appraise it. Once you connect apprised with information and appraised with evaluation, the difference becomes much easier to remember.
| Word | Meaning | Common use | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprised | Informed or made aware | apprised of something | We were apprised of the changes. |
| Appraised | Evaluated or valued | appraised something | The expert appraised the painting. |
This distinction makes the difference between apprised and appraised much easier to understand.
Use apprised when someone receives information, gets an update, or becomes aware of something.
Use appraised when someone examines or evaluates a person or thing to determine its quality, condition, effectiveness, worth, or value.
Apprised Means Informed
Apprised is the past tense and past participle of apprise. Use apprised when someone gives another person information, an update, or an explanation about something.
For example:
- The manager apprised the employees of the new schedule.
- The manager apprised the team of the situation.
- The lawyer kept her client apprised of the developments.
In each example, the subject actively provides information or keeps someone informed.
Appraised Means Evaluated
Appraised is the past tense and past participle of appraise. When someone appraises something, they examine it carefully and make an assessment.
For example:
The jeweler appraised the necklace.
The bank had the house appraised.
The supervisor appraised the employee’s performance.
Here, the action involves assessment rather than communication.
That simple distinction is the heart of the apprised or appraised difference.
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Apprised Meaning and Definition
The Apprised means that someone has informed another person or made them aware of something.Use it when someone gives another person information about a situation, decision, development, change, or set of facts.
The word commonly appears in the construction “apprised of.”
For example:
- The manager apprised the residents of the changes.
- The director had a complete understanding of the facts.
- The company apprised the customer of the new policy.
- The lawyer wanted to apprise her client of the situation.
This construction matters because apprised normally takes “of” when you identify the information that someone communicates. In other words, use “apprised of” when you want to show what information a person receives.
Apprise Meaning
Apprise means to inform or notify someone about something. It is the present-tense form behind apprised.
A common structure is:
apprise someone of something
For example:
Please apprise me of any changes.
The manager will apprise the staff of the decision.
The attorney apprised the client of the new development.
In everyday conversation, people often choose simpler words such as inform, tell, notify, update, or brief. Apprise is more formal and tends to appear in professional, legal, administrative, and official writing.
How Apprised Works in Everyday Writing
Although apprised sounds formal, its meaning is straightforward.
- If someone tells you what is happening, they inform you.
- If someone gives you the latest details, they update you.
- If someone makes sure you understand the important facts, they apprise you of them.
In simple terms, apprised means that someone has given you information or made you aware of something.
For example:
The project manager kept everyone apprised of the schedule.
This means the project manager regularly gave everyone the information they needed.
The word does not suggest that anyone evaluated the schedule. The focus remains on communication.
Appraised Meaning and Definition
Appraised means “evaluated,” “assessed,” or “given an estimated value.”
It is the past tense and past participle of appraise.
For example:
- The expert appraised the artwork.
- The appraiser valued the house at $450,000.
The committee appraised the proposal.
The supervisor appraised the employee’s performance.
These examples show that appraise has a wider meaning than simply “determine a price.”
Appraise Meaning
To appraise something means to examine it and form an assessment about its value, quality, condition, effectiveness, or performance.
For example:
The specialist appraised the antique.
Here, the specialist examined the antique to determine its worth.
However, appraise can also describe a broader evaluation:
The committee appraised the effectiveness of the program.
In this sentence, nobody is trying to determine a monetary value. The committee is evaluating how effective the program is.
Therefore, it is useful to remember that appraise can involve money, but it does not always involve money.
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Apprised vs Appraised How the Meanings Compare
The difference becomes particularly clear when the two words appear in the same situation.
Imagine that a homeowner applies for a mortgage.
First, an expert examines the property and estimates its value.
The appraiser appraised the house at $500,000.
Later, the bank informs the homeowner about the result.
The bank apprised the homeowner of the appraised value.
Both words are correct because they describe two separate actions.
The appraiser appraised the house.
The manager apprised the homeowner.
This example provides a useful way to understand the difference between appraised and apprised. One describes evaluation, while the other describes communication.
Information Versus Evaluation
When you see apprised, think about information moving toward a person.
When you see appraised, think about someone examining or evaluating a person or thing.
That gives you a simple mental contrast:
Apprised relates to information.
Appraised relates to assessment.
Once you see that distinction, the spelling becomes much easier to remember.
Difference Between Appraise vs Apprise
The difference between appraise and apprise is the same basic distinction that exists between appraised and apprised.
Apprise means to inform someone.
Appraise means to evaluate something or someone.
Consider these examples:
The manager apprised the employees of the changes.
The manager appraised the employees’ performance.
The first sentence is about giving information.
The second sentence is about evaluation.
This difference also affects the grammatical structure.
Apprise commonly follows this pattern:
apprise someone of something
Appraise commonly follows this pattern:
appraise something or someone
For example:
The director apprised the staff of the new policy.
The director appraised the proposal.
That grammatical difference can help you choose the correct word when the meanings seem easy to confuse.
Appraise vs Apprise in Context
Suppose a supervisor has to deal with a new workplace policy.
The supervisor might first apprise the team of the policy.
Later, the supervisor might appraise how effectively employees are following it.
The first action involves receiving information.
The second involves evaluation.
Context does most of the work.
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Keep You Apprised vs Appraised?
One of the most common points of confusion involves the expression keep you apprised vs appraised.
When you mean “keep you informed,” the correct expression is keep you apprised.
For example:
We will keep you apprised of any changes.
Please keep me apprised of the situation.
The manager promised to keep the team apprised of the latest developments.
These sentences mean that someone will continue providing information.
Keep You Apprised Meaning
The keep you apprised meaning is simply “keep you informed or updated.”
The expression suggests an ongoing flow of information.
For example:
I will keep you apprised of the results.
This means:
I will continue to give you information about the results as it becomes available.
Similarly:
Please keep me apprised of the details.
means:
Please continue to update me about the details.
Keep Me Apprised vs Appraised?
If the intended meaning is “keep me informed,” choose apprised.
Correct:
Please keep me apprised of the changes.
Incorrect for that meaning:
Please keep me appraised of the changes.
Appraised carries the meaning of evaluation, so it does not normally work in this familiar expression.
However, appraised can be grammatically correct in another context.
For example:
The manager regularly appraised the employee during the performance review process.
Here, appraised means evaluated.
The problem is therefore not that appraised is always wrong after keep. The problem is that it does not normally mean “informed.”
Why Do People Confuse Apprised and Appraised?
Similar Spelling
The spelling confusion is easy to understand.
Compare:
apprise
appraise
Now compare their past forms:
apprised
appraised
Only a small difference separates them visually. However, the meanings are far apart.
This is one reason writers commonly confuse these verbs in English.
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Similar Formal Contexts
Both words also appear in professional settings.
A business report might explain how managers apprise employees of important developments.
The same report might explain how analysts appraise a proposal.
Legal documents, workplace communication, financial reports, and official correspondence can therefore contain both words.
That shared environment makes the confusion even more likely.
Similar Pronunciation
The words also sound related.
In US English, apprise and appraise have different vowel sounds. Apprise has the vowel sound found in “price,” while appraise has the vowel sound found in “raise.”
You can hear the difference more easily when you compare the two words side by side.
Appraise uses a long “a” sound.
Apprise uses a long “i” sound.
The endings are similar, which means the middle vowel becomes especially important.
Appraise Pronunciation
The Appraise has the same main vowel sound as words such as raise and praise.
We can represent the pronunciation as /əˈpreɪz/.
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Apprise Pronunciation
Apprise has the vowel sound found in price and rise.
You can represent the pronunciation as /əˈpraɪz/.
The difference is small but meaningful.
When spoken carefully, the two words do not have the same vowel sound.
A Useful Pronunciation Reminder
Think of these pairs:
appraise → raise
apprise → rise
The comparison can help you remember both pronunciation and spelling.
Common Mistakes With Apprised vs Appraised
One common mistake is using appraised when you mean informed. Remember, apprised means told or kept updated, while appraised means evaluated or assessed. Another frequent error is writing “apprised on” instead of the standard “apprised of.” For example, “Please keep me apprised of the changes” is correct. Likewise, an appraiser appraises a property when someone needs to determine its value. Keeping these meanings separate will help you avoid confusing information with evaluation.
Using Appraised When You Mean Informed
A common mistake is writing:
The manager kept everyone appraised of the changes.
When you mean “kept everyone informed,” use
The manager kept everyone apprised of the changes.
The distinction matters because appraised refers to evaluation.
Using Apprised When You Mean Evaluated
Another common error is:
The expert apprised the painting.
The correct sentence is:
The expert appraised the painting.
The expert evaluated the painting’s value or quality.
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Assuming Appraise Only Refers to Money
People strongly associate appraise with financial value because professionals often use it to assess property and other assets. Nevertheless, the word can describe many forms of assessment.
For example:
The committee appraised the effectiveness of the plan.
The manager appraised the employee’s performance.
The researchers appraised the quality of the evidence.
None of these examples requires a monetary value.
Forgetting the “Of” After Apprise
Because apprise means inform, the usual structure is:
apprise someone of something
For example:
The director apprised the staff of the changes.
A sentence such as “The director apprised the changes” does not follow the normal structure.
Apprised and Appraised in Professional Writing
In professional writing, apprised and appraised may look almost identical, but they serve very different purposes. Choosing the right word helps keep your communication clear, precise, and professional.
Use apprised when you mean informed, notified, or kept updated about something. For example, “Please keep me apprised of any changes to the project” means that you want to receive updates as the situation develops.
Use appraised when you mean evaluated, assessed, or examined to determine value or quality. For example, “The appraiser appraised the property before the sale” means the appraiser professionally assessed its value.
The distinction is simple: apprised relates to information, while appraised relates to evaluation. Keeping these meanings separate can help you avoid an awkward mix-up in emails, reports, business documents, and other professional communication.
Business Communication
Apprised is useful when a professional message needs to explain that someone has received an update.
For example:
The manager apprised the department head of the latest developments.
However, in a less formal email, informed or updated may sound more natural.
For example:
Please keep me updated on the project.
Both sentences communicate essentially the same idea, but the second feels more conversational.
Legal and Official Communication
Apprised often appears in formal contexts because official communication frequently involves informing people about facts, decisions, rights, responsibilities, or developments.
For example:
The lawyer fully apprised the client of the terms of the agreement.
The attorney apprised the parties of the relevant facts.
In these sentences, the emphasis remains on awareness and communication.
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Property and Financial Communication
Appraised is particularly common in real estate and financial contexts.
For example:
The appraiser appraised the property before the lender finalized the mortgage.
The lender reviewed the appraised value.
An appraisal can help establish an estimated value for a property, but that value does not automatically determine what a buyer will ultimately pay.
The listing price, negotiated purchase price, market conditions, financing arrangements, and other factors can all differ from an appraised value.
Apprised vs Appraised Synonyms
Apprise Synonyms
An apprise synonym depends on the context.
Common alternatives include:
- Inform
- Notify
- Advise
- Update
- Brief
- Tell
- Make aware
For example:
The manager apprised the staff of the changes.
can become:
1The manager informed the staff of the changes.
2The manager updated the staff about the changes.
3The manager notified the staff of the changes.
However, the exact replacement depends on the sentence.
Appraise Synonyms
An appraise synonym can include:
- Evaluate
- Assess
- Judge
- Value
- Estimate
- Examine
- Determine worth
For example:
The expert appraised the painting.
could become:
1The expert evaluated the painting.
2The expert assessed the painting.
3The expert estimated the painting’s value.
Again, the context determines which alternative sounds most natural.
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Apprised vs Appraised in Real Sentences
Workplace Example
The manager apprised the employees of the changes before the new policy took effect.
The employees received information.
Property Example
The appraiser appraised the house at $425,000.
The appraiser evaluated the house to determine its estimated monetary value.
Legal Example
The lawyer fully apprised the client of the possible consequences.
The manager informed the client.
Performance Example
The supervisor appraised the employee’s performance.
The supervisor evaluated the employee’s work.
Project Example
The director asked the team to keep her apprised of the project’s progress.
The director wanted regular updates.
Antique Example
The specialist appraised the antique before the auction.
The specialist assessed its value.
These examples show why replacing one word with the other can change the entire meaning of a sentence.
Appraise, Appraised, Appraising, and Appraisal
The appraise word family centers on evaluation.
Appraise means to evaluate.
Appraised is the past tense and past participle.
Appraising is the present participle.
Appraisal is the noun describing the act or result of evaluation.
Appraiser refers to a person who performs an appraisal.
For example:
1The bank will appraise the property.
2The bank appraised the property yesterday.
3The bank is appraising the property now.
4The bank ordered an appraisal.
An appraiser inspected the property.
Understanding the entire word family makes the meaning easier to recognize.
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Apprise, Apprised, and Apprising
The apprise word family centers on informing someone.
Apprise means to inform.
Apprised is the past tense and past participle.
Apprising is the present participle.
For example:
1The manager will apprise the team of the decision.
2The manager apprised the team of the decision.
3The manager is apprising the team of the latest developments.
The forms look similar to those of appraise, but the meaning remains connected to information rather than evaluation.
Apprised vs Appraised A Quick Decision Guide
When you’re unsure which word to choose, ask what action the sentence describes.
Choose Apprised When Someone Is Being Informed
Use apprised when the sentence involves:
- Information
- Updates
- Notification
- Awareness
- Facts
- Changes
- Developments
- Decisions
- Details
- Situations
For example:
The manager apprised the staff of the changes.
Choose Appraised When Something Is Being Evaluated
Use appraised when the sentence involves:
- Value
- Quality
- Performance
- Condition
- Effectiveness
- Worth
- Assessment
- Evaluation
- Property
- Financial valuation
For example:
The appraiser appraised the property before the sale.
If you can replace the word with informed, choose apprised.
If you can replace it with evaluated or assessed, choose appraised.
Apprised vs Appraised Common Sentence Corrections
| Incorrect sentence | Correct sentence | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Please keep me appraised of the changes. | Please keep me apprised of the changes. | The meaning is “keep me informed.” |
| The expert apprised the painting. | The expert appraised the painting. | The expert evaluated the painting. |
| The employees were appraised of the policy. | The employees were apprised of the policy. | The employees were informed. |
| The committee apprised the proposal. | The committee appraised the proposal. | The committee evaluated the proposal. |
| We were fully appraised of the facts. | We were fully apprised of the facts. | The meaning is “fully informed.” |
| The jeweler apprised the necklace. | The jeweler appraised the necklace. | The jeweler assessed its value. |
These corrections reveal an important point: the error is not merely a spelling mistake. In many cases, the wrong word assigns the wrong action to the sentence.
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Practice Session Apprised vs Appraised
- The antique vase was carefully ________ by an experienced specialist.
- Please keep me ________ of any developments regarding the project.
- The bank required the property to be ________ before approving the loan.
- We were ________ of the unexpected change in the meeting schedule.
- The expert ________ the painting to determine its market value.
- The director made sure that everyone was ________ of the latest developments.
- The jewelry was ________ before it was placed on the market.
- Please keep the client ________ of any delays.
- The company’s assets were ________ as part of the financial review.
- She ________ her supervisor of the problem as soon as she discovered it.
- The manager ________ the staff of the changes to the company policy.
- The house was professionally ________ before it was listed for sale.
- The employees were ________ of the new workplace regulations.
- An expert ________ the rare coin to determine its worth.
- I want to be ________ of any changes to the schedule.
- The artwork was ________ by a professional before the auction.
- The lawyer ________ the client of the possible consequences.
- The equipment was ________ to determine its current value.
- The committee members were ________ of the decision before the announcement.
- The insurance company had the damaged property ________.
- Please make sure the entire team is ________ of the revised plan.
- The collector had the antique clock ________ by a specialist.
- The supervisor ________ the employees of the updated safety procedures.
- The value of the necklace was ________ before it was insured.
- Keep me ________ of any further developments.
Answers
- apprised
- appraised
- apprised
- appraised
- apprised
- appraised
- apprised
- appraised
- apprised
- appraised
- apprised
- appraised
- apprised
- appraised
- apprised
- appraised
- apprised
- appraised
- apprised
- appraised
- apprised
- appraised
- apprised
- appraised
- apprised
Here’s a trusted source for clear more words Comparison:
FAQs
What is the difference between apprised and appraised?
Apprised means informed or made aware of something, while appraised means evaluated, assessed, or given a value. For example, “She apprised me of the changes” means she informed me about them. In contrast, “The appraiser evaluated the property to determine its value” means the appraiser assessed the property.
When should I use apprised instead of appraised?
Use apprised when you are talking about giving or receiving information. Use appraised when you mean evaluating, assessing, or determining the value of something. If the context involves being informed, choose apprised. If it involves careful evaluation, choose appraised.
Can apprised describe someone receiving information?
Yes. Apprised describes a situation in which someone informs another person about a situation, decision, development, or change. For example, “The manager apprised the employees of the new policy” means the manager informed them about the policy.
Can appraised describe something other than property?
Yes. Although people often associate appraised with homes and other valuable property, the word can describe many kinds of evaluation. An expert can appraise artwork, jewelry, antiques, collectibles, or even someone’s performance.
Why is apprised usually followed by “of”?
The standard construction is “apprise someone of something.” Therefore, “She apprised us of the situation” means she informed us about the situation. Writers commonly use this pattern in formal and professional communication.
Is “keep me apprised” correct?
Yes. “Keep me apprised” is a standard expression that means “keep me informed” or “keep me updated.” For example, “Please keep me apprised of any changes to the schedule.”
Can appraised mean examined?
Yes. Appraised can mean that someone carefully examined and evaluated something. Depending on the context, the evaluation may focus on value, quality, condition, performance, or effectiveness.
What is the noun form of appraise?
The noun form is appraisal. It refers to the process or result of evaluating something. For example, “The property appraisal determined its estimated market value.”
What is the base form of apprised?
The base verb is apprise. Apprised is its past-tense and past-participle form. For example, “Please apprise the team of the decision” becomes “The manager apprised the team of the decision.”
Can apprised mean kept updated?
Yes. Apprised can indicate that someone receives ongoing information about developments. For example, “The manager kept the team apprised of the project’s progress” means the manager continued to provide updates.
Can appraised describe someone’s performance?
Yes. Appraised can refer to the formal assessment of someone’s work or performance. For example, “The manager appraised the employee’s performance during the review.”
Does apprised have anything to do with monetary value?
No. Apprised relates to information, not financial value. If you mean that someone received information about a price, decision, or financial matter, apprised is appropriate. If you mean that someone evaluated something to determine its value, appraised is the correct word.
Does appraised always mean something was given a price?
Not necessarily. Appraised can mean evaluated or assessed without involving money. For example, a manager can appraise a person’s performance, a team can appraise a project’s quality, or an expert can appraise an object’s condition.
What is the easiest way to remember apprised vs. appraised?
Think of apprised as connected with information and appraised as connected with evaluation. If someone tells you what is happening, they apprise you of it. If someone examines something to determine its value or quality, they appraise it.
Is “I was apprised of the situation” correct?
Yes. The sentence is grammatically correct and means that someone informed you about the situation. It is somewhat formal, so “I was informed about the situation” may sound more natural in casual conversation.
Is “The house was apprised” correct?
No, not if you mean that someone assessed its value. The correct sentence is “The appraiser appraised the house.” A property is appraised when someone formally evaluates its value or other relevant characteristics.
Is “I was appraised of the changes” correct?
No. If you mean that someone informed you about the changes, the correct word is apprised: “The manager apprised me of the changes.” Appraised would suggest that someone evaluated something.
Are apprise and appraise pronounced differently?
Yes. They have different vowel sounds. Apprise has a long “i” sound, while appraise has a long “a” sound. Their similar spellings can make them confusing, but their meanings and pronunciations remain distinct.
Is apprised a formal word?
Yes. Apprised is generally more formal than everyday alternatives such as informed or updated. People frequently use it in professional, business, legal, and official communication. In casual conversation, “keep me updated” may sound more natural.
What is the difference between apprise and inform?
Both words can mean giving someone information, but apprise is more formal. Apprise also commonly appears in the structure “apprise someone of something,” while inform has more flexible everyday usage.
What is the difference between appraise and evaluate?
Both words can refer to assessing something carefully. Appraise is particularly common when someone determines value or conducts a formal assessment. Evaluate has a broader meaning and can refer to judging quality, effectiveness, performance, or results.
Which word should I use in a professional email: apprised or appraised?
Choose the word based on what you mean. Use apprised when you are referring to keeping someone informed, as in “Please keep me apprised of the project’s progress.” Use appraised when referring to an evaluation, as in “The appraiser appraised the proposal before the final decision.”
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Conclusion
Apprised vs appraised may look like they wandered into the same spelling family, but they do very different jobs. Apprised deals with information, while appraised deals with evaluation. When someone keeps you informed, they keep you apprised. When an expert evaluates a house, painting, piece of jewelry, or performance, the expert appraises it.
The confusion usually comes from their nearly identical spelling and pronunciation. However, once you connect apprised with being informed and appraised with being assessed, the difference becomes much easier to remember. So, if you’re writing “Please keep me apprised of the changes,” choose apprised. If you’re talking about determining the value of something, choose appraised.
In short, these two words may look like twins, but they have completely different jobs. Mix them up, and your sentence might sound as though you’re evaluating something when you only meant to inform someone. Grammar has a sense of humor sometimes!
Diora AJS she is an experienced blogger and passionate English language enthusiast at Words Refine. With a keen eye for language and a love for clear communication, she writes practical content about grammar, word meanings, usage, and commonly confused terms. Her goal is to make English easier to understand through clear explanations and relatable examples, helping readers write accurately and communicate with confidence.
