Answer: rise v. raise

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From an anonymous questioner: When is it appropriate to use "rise" versus "raise"?

The verbs "rise" and "raise" both indicate upward movement. However the difference between them, just as with lie vs. lay, is that the first is an intransitive verb and the second a transitive verb. That's the grammarian's way of saying "rise" can't have an object and "raise" must have one.

Here are some examples from Supernatural, with one Harry Potter thrown in.

Dean slapped at the beeping alarm. "C'mon Sammy, rise and shine."

Sam raised his head from the pillow, squinting. "After last night? Urgh."

"Rise" describes some thing's (object, person, body part) movement upward, while "raise" describes some thing (object, person, body part) being acted upon for the upward movement.

Dean glared at the factions of angels. "I didn't rise up from death and Hell for this kind of crap."
(Dean rose.)

Castiel responded, "I raised you up from death and Hell--for exactly this reason."
(Active voice: Castiel raised Dean.)

Dean backed away. "Uh uh. I don't care if I was raised by you or Daffy Duck. I'm out of this."
(Passive voice: Castiel raised Dean.)

There is one situation in which "rise" and "raise" are changeable depending upon whether you're writing American or British English: the noun form referring to an increase in salary. Americans use "pay raise," and the British use "pay rise."

Dean lay on his back in the aftermath, cataloging his injuries: dislocated shoulder, stab wound in the arm, wrenched knee, goose egg on his head. "I'm getting too old for this. I want a raise."

Severus surveyed his classroom in the aftermath: one cauldron utterly destroyed, six students with beaks for noses, and glops of purple potion dripping from every surface of the lab. "I'm getting too old for this. I want a pay rise."