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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
Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 17 Apr. 2025
The cause and manner of death was amended after a review of her laboratory test results.
—Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 16 Apr. 2025
Following the lab test results, the medical examiner’s office amended the cause of death.
—Denise Petski, Deadline, 16 Apr. 2025
In 2013, the Florida Legislature amended Section 849.094 in response to the proliferation of Internet sweepstakes cafés that were offering real money ‘casino-style’ games under the guise of a ‘free’ sweepstakes to promote sales of prepaid phone cards or Internet access time.
—Daniel Wallach, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 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 22 Apr. 2025.
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