amend or emend? These two words are sometimes confused. To amend is a general word meaning to ‘correct and improve’: She did her best to amend her behaviour. It also has a specific meaning in relation to pieces of legislation, to ‘alter or add to and improve’ (the Act of 1978 as amended in 1993). Emend has a more limited use. It is used exclusively in relation to texts and means ‘to remove errors or irregularities from’ (emended the text to bring it into line with modern spelling conventions)