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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
Ken Maguire, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2025
Executive guidance and memoranda have said that the policy will be enforced comprehensively and without further delay unless otherwise amended by presidential action.
—Tahar Rajab, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 May 2025
If the soil is compacted or poorly drained, consider amending it with compost or sand to improve structure and drainage.
—Debbie Wolfe, Popular Science, 8 May 2025
Eastman's district is not the first to amend a gender eligibility policy in recent weeks.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 7 May 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 14 May. 2025.
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