Raise vs. Rise: The Right Usage

Do you ever find yourself struggling to differentiate between raise vs. rise? Do you feel like your mind is constantly raising doubts in English, trying to rise above the confusion? If you do, you’re not the only one. The confusion between raise vs. rise is common, and in this article we’ll break down the difference between the two words for you. Read on.

Difference between raise and rise

The main difference between raise vs. rise is that raise is a transitive verb, which means it requires an object, while rise is an intransitive verb, which means it does not require an object.

Raise is used when something is lifted or elevated by someone or something else. It is usually used in the context of physical objects such as books, boxes, or chairs. For example, “I raised my hand to ask a question” or “I raised the blinds to let in more light”. It can also be used when referring to people or animals such as “He raised his son to be a doctor” or “She raised a herd of cattle on her farm”. Raise can also be used in the context of money such as “The company raised $10,000 for charity”.

Rise is used when something or someone is increasing in height or level without the help of anyone or anything else. It can refer to physical objects such as the sun, the tide, or a balloon, as well as to non-physical objects such as prices, temperatures, or emotions. For example, “The sun rises in the east” or “The temperature is rising“. It can also be used when referring to people or animals such as “He rose from his chair to greet me” or “The bird rose from its nest”.

Raise vs. rise examples

1. The research team raised funds for their project by applying for grants from various organizations.
2. The university raised tuition fees for the upcoming academic year.

In these examples, “raised” is used to indicate that the research team and the university took an action to increase the amount of money they had available for their respective goals.

1. The number of participants in the study will rise significantly after the recruitment campaign is launched.
2. The data shows that the temperature in the region has risen by 2 degrees Celsius over the last decade.

In these examples, “rise or risen” is used to indicate an increase in quantity or level. In the first example, the number of participants increased, while in the second example, the temperature increased over time.

In conclusion, raise and rise may seem similar, but they have different meanings and usage. Similar to them are words like adopt vs. adapt, continually vs. continuously, intra vs. inter and many more. Do check out these articles if you are keen to more about these common confusables.

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