The confusion between ‘amending’ and ‘emending’ is a common grammar mistake because these two words are often used interchangeably, even though they have different meanings and usage.
‘Amending’ means making changes or revisions to something, typically a document, law, or policy, in order to improve or correct it. It implies the act of modifying or adjusting an existing text or document to rectify errors or enhance its effectiveness. For example, if you are editing a document and you correct a spelling mistake or revise a sentence, you are amending the document.
On the other hand, ‘emending’ means making improvements or corrections to a piece of writing or text, usually a literary work or a manuscript, by removing errors, inconsistencies, or defects. It suggests the act of revising or editing a written work to enhance its overall quality or coherence. For instance, if you are proofreading a novel and you correct grammatical errors or rephrase awkward sentences, you are emending the text.
To summarize, ‘amending’ is commonly used when referring to making changes to documents, laws, or policies, while ‘emending’ is more frequently associated with improving or correcting written works, such as books or articles.
Tricks to remember the difference between ‘amending’ and ‘emending’:
- Think of ‘amending’ as focusing on changes to documents or policies.
- Think of ‘emending’ as focusing on improvements to written works like books or manuscripts.
Examples:
- The committee proposed amending the bylaws to include a new provision.
- The author spent hours emending the manuscript to eliminate errors and improve the flow of the story.
- The lawyer suggested amending the contract to clarify certain terms.
- The editor carefully emended the article to ensure clarity and coherence.