The English language contains many words that look and sound similar but have entirely different meanings. One pair that often causes confusion is apprised vs appraised. Because the spellings differ by only one letter, it’s easy to use the wrong word in emails, reports, or everyday writing.
Fortunately, understanding the difference is simple. Apprised relates to informing someone, while appraised refers to evaluating or determining the value of something. This guide explains both words with clear definitions, practical examples, common mistakes, and memory tips to help you use them correctly every time.
Quick Answer
Apprised means informed or made aware of something.
Appraised means evaluated, assessed, or given a value.
- ✅ She was apprised of the meeting schedule.
- ✅ The house was appraised at $450,000.
The easiest way to remember is:
- Apprised = informed
- Appraised = evaluated
What Does “Apprised” Mean?
Apprised is the past tense and past participle of the verb apprise. It means to inform someone or make them aware of important information.
The word is commonly used in professional, legal, business, and formal writing.
Examples of “Apprised”
- The manager apprised the team of the new policy.
- Please keep me apprised of any changes.
- Employees were apprised of the company’s decision.
- The lawyer apprised her client of the legal options.
- We were fully apprised of the situation.
In each example, apprised means someone received information.
What Does “Appraised” Mean?
Appraised is the past tense and past participle of appraise. It means to evaluate, assess, or determine the value, quality, or worth of something.
It is frequently used in finance, real estate, insurance, business, and employee performance reviews.
Examples of “Appraised”
- The property was appraised before it was sold.
- The jeweler appraised the diamond.
- Her performance was appraised annually.
- The artwork was appraised by an expert.
- The insurance company appraised the damage.
Here, appraised always refers to evaluating or estimating value.
Apprised vs Appraised: Key Differences
| Feature | Apprised | Appraised |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Informed or notified | Evaluated or assessed |
| Verb Form | Past of apprise | Past of appraise |
| Focus | Sharing information | Determining value or quality |
| Common Contexts | Business, legal, communication | Real estate, finance, insurance |
| Example | She was apprised of the changes. | The home was appraised yesterday. |
Although they look similar, the two words have completely different meanings.
When Should You Use “Apprised”?
Use apprised whenever someone is informed, updated, or made aware of important information.
Common expressions include:
- Keep me apprised
- Fully apprised
- Apprised of the situation
- Apprised of developments
- Apprised of changes
Example Sentences
- Please keep me apprised of your progress.
- The staff were apprised of the schedule.
- Investors were apprised of the company’s plans.
- The director was apprised of the incident immediately.
- Customers were apprised of the delay.
When Should You Use “Appraised”?
Use appraised when discussing the evaluation, estimation, or assessment of value, quality, performance, or condition.
Common expressions include:
- Property appraised
- Appraised value
- Professionally appraised
- Home appraisal
- Performance appraised
Example Sentences
- The antique was appraised by a specialist.
- Their house was appraised last week.
- The employee’s work was appraised fairly.
- The insurance adjuster appraised the damage.
- The collection was appraised before the auction.
Side-by-Side Examples
These comparisons make the distinction easier.
- The CEO apprised employees of the merger.
- The consultant appraised the company’s assets.
- We were apprised of the weather warning.
- The building was appraised before purchase.
- She kept me apprised throughout the project.
- The painting was appraised by an art expert.
Notice that apprised always involves communication, while appraised involves evaluation.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
These errors frequently appear in business writing.
Incorrect: The manager appraised us about the new policy.
✅ Correct: The manager apprised us of the new policy.
The manager informed employees rather than evaluated them.
Incorrect: The house was apprised at $600,000.
✅ Correct: The house was appraised at $600,000.
A property’s value is appraised.
Incorrect: Please keep me appraised of updates.
✅ Correct: Please keep me apprised of updates.
Updates inform people, so use apprised.
Incorrect: The expert apprised the painting.
✅ Correct: The expert appraised the painting.
Experts evaluate objects; they do not inform them.
Easy Memory Trick
Here’s an easy way to remember.
Apprised = Aware
Both apprised and aware begin with A.
If someone becomes aware of information, they are apprised.
Appraised = Price
Notice that appraised contains the letters praise, but think of the word price.
When determining a price or value, something is appraised.
A simple reminder:
- Apprised = informed
- Appraised = valued
Common Phrases with “Apprised”
You’ll often see these expressions.
- Keep me apprised
- Fully apprised
- Apprised of developments
- Apprised of the decision
- Apprised of the situation
Example
Please keep us apprised of any new information.
Common Phrases with “Appraised”
These expressions frequently appear in business and finance.
- Appraised value
- Fair market value appraised
- Professionally appraised
- Property appraised
- Performance appraised
Example
The property was professionally appraised before listing.
American vs British English
There is no significant difference between American and British English in the meanings or spellings of apprised and appraised.
Both varieties use:
- Apprised to mean informed.
- Appraised to mean evaluated.
Examples:
- American English: Keep me apprised of any changes.
- British English: Keep me apprised of any changes.
- American English: The home was appraised yesterday.
- British English: The home was appraised yesterday.
Only pronunciation may vary slightly depending on regional accents.
Practice Sentences
Choose the correct word.
- Please keep me ______ of your progress.
- ✅ Apprised
- The property was professionally ______.
- ✅ Appraised
- Staff members were ______ of the new policy.
- ✅ Apprised
- The insurance company ______ the vehicle.
- ✅ Appraised
- We were fully ______ of the recent developments.
- ✅ Apprised
FAQs
What is the difference between apprised and appraised?
Apprised means informed or made aware of something. Appraised means evaluated or given a value.
Is apprised the same as informed?
Yes. In formal English, apprised is another way of saying informed or notified.
What does appraised mean in real estate?
It means a property has been professionally evaluated to determine its market value.
Can I say “keep me appraised”?
No. The correct expression is “keep me apprised,” which means keep me informed.
Is appraised only used for property?
No. Appraised can also describe evaluating artwork, jewelry, vehicles, employee performance, and other valuable items.
Why do people confuse apprised and appraised?
The words look and sound similar, but they have different meanings. One relates to information, while the other relates to evaluation.
Is there any difference between American and British English?
No. Both American and British English use these words with the same meanings and spellings.
Summary
Understanding apprised vs appraised is easy once you focus on their core meanings. Apprised is used when someone is informed or made aware of information, making it common in business communication, legal documents, and professional writing. Appraised, on the other hand, refers to evaluating the value, quality, or condition of something and is frequently used in real estate, finance, insurance, and performance reviews.
Although these words are similar in spelling and pronunciation, they serve entirely different purposes. Remember that apprised relates to sharing information, while appraised relates to assessing value. Keeping this distinction in mind will help you communicate more accurately and avoid a common English vocabulary mistake.
William Harved is a passionate language enthusiast and digital writer specializing in English spelling, grammar clarity, and common writing mistakes. As the primary author of Spelword.com, he focuses on helping readers understand confusing word pairs, correct spelling errors, and improve everyday communication.
