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Amend vs. Emend
The question of whether to use amend or emend is a vexing one for many people, complicated by the fact that the words sound quite similar and have meanings that overlap to a considerable degree. Both words can be used with the meanings “to improve” or “to correct,” but there are subtle differences. Emend is most often used in connection with changes to some form of written material, such as a text or manuscript; while such documents may also be described as amended, amend can apply to improvements or corrections made to things other than writing, as in “he amended his behavior.” The confusion is compounded by the fact that one of the most frequently encountered uses of amend is in reference to a document: the Constitution of the United States.
Examples of amend in a Sentence
Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 27 Oct. 2025
If the President believes that imposing, removing, or amending tariffs is an appropriate policy measure, Congress has given him tools to pursue those goals.
—Jenna Sundel, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
Lee Coleman, an attorney for Moore’s family, said the complaint could be amended once further details become available, and that defendants could be added.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2025
Trump’s commentary, and some of his changes to the STB since his return to the Oval Office, have suggested that the board’s regulatory framework could be amended to make for more merger-friendly conditions.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for amend
Cite this Entry
“Amend.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/amend. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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