Evaluate, valuate or appraise?

Question

I'm looking for a verb to describe a situation. Which is the most appropriate here; evaluate, valuate or appraise? Can I use all of them?

Thank you in advance.

Answer 1

In this case, you would evaluate, or possibly assess, the situation. Then you would propose a solution.

Valuate specifically would refer to establishing a monetary value, probably for damage done that needs to be repaired, and is not commonly used.

Appraise also has conotations of establishing a monetary value. You can appraise a situation, though, in the sense of evaluating that situation. If you take a painting to an expert to determine its value, they would do an appraisal.

Thanks a lot Jeremias. Your post was very helpful. - ianta, Oct 3, 2011

Answer 2

Both "evaluate" and "asses" are often (though not exclusively) used to mean "to set/determine a monetary value" (in the case of "evaluate", one only need think of the origin of the word). If you're willing to move into less formal speech, "to size up" works very well.

I'd prefer to use a more formal word. - ianta, Oct 3, 2011

Answer 3

Evaluate. . .or maybe assess.

Thank you very much Lorenzo. - ianta, Oct 3, 2011

Yes, assess is the verb that I would use. More context is needed though. - SpanishPal, Oct 3, 2011

Answer 4

Yes, assess is the verb that I would use. More context is needed though

For example... a client comes to my office complaining that a wall of his house is mouldy. What do I say to him? "I will come to your house to evaluate /valuate/ appraise/ assess the problem (or situation) and then I'll propose a solution to fix it".

Either evaluate, appraise or assess would be fine here. - MaryMcc, Oct 3, 2011

I'd go with assess. :) . If you wanna make it more friendly and less formal, you can say ...I'll pass by to have a look at it, and we'll definitely find a way to fix it up. :) . Don't say that if the guy is cute and single jejejejeje - SpanishPal, Oct 3, 2011

I'll keep it mind;) - ianta, Oct 3, 2011

Answer 5

Both "evaluate" and "asses" are often (though not exclusively) used to mean "to set/determine a monetary value" (in the case of "evaluate", one only need think of the origin of the word). If you're willing to move into less formal speech, "to size up" works very well.

Listing the words entioned so far in order, from most to least strongly tied to determining monetary value, I would put them this way:

valuate, appraise, assess, evaluate

although I understand why others would order them differently.

For the particular case of a moldy wall, I would use assess.

Let's stay with mouldy. I'm beginning to like all of these British spellings. - 0074b507, Oct 3, 2011

Thanks again Lorenzo:) - ianta, Oct 3, 2011

Answer 6

Or you could appraise a situation. .

Thanks a lot Mary! - ianta, Oct 3, 2011