How to decide between "raise" and "rise"

Is there a difference between "raise" and "rise" in English? There is! Both are about something going up, but they're used in different ways. The trick is to ask one question: is someone lifting something, or is it going up by itself?

Raise

You "raise" something. There's always a person or thing doing the lifting, and something being lifted or increased.

• Let's raise our glasses to the happy couple!
• The company is raising salaries this year.
• They're trying to raise money for the new playground.
• Raise your hand if you have a question.

You'll also hear "raise awareness," "raise a question," and "raise children," which means bringing them up.

• She raised three kids on her own.

One to watch out for: "raise your voice" means speaking loudly, usually because you're angry. If you just can't hear someone, ask them to "speak up."

Rise

"Rise" is for things that go up on their own. Nobody is lifting them.

• Leave the dough to rise for an hour.
• Prices keep rising.
• The river rose after the storm.
• The sun rises in the east.

The forms are where people often slip. It's "raise, raised, raised," but "rise, rose, risen."

• Rents have risen a lot this year.
• The company has raised its prices.

And if you're asking your boss for more money, Americans ask for a "raise," while British speakers ask for a "pay rise."

If you're not sure which one you need, check whether there's something being lifted. If there is, it's "raise." If the thing goes up on its own, it's "rise."

Learn more about "raise" and "rise" in our Daily Dose of Denglisch Docs video series.