Amending is the act of making small changes or corrections to something—typically a document or plan—to improve accuracy, legality, or fairness. It emphasizes revision rather than overhaul, often following an error or new information. The term implies a precise, deliberate adjustment rather than a complete rewrite.
US & AU accents are Premium
Unlock all accent variations
"The committee is amending the draft by adding a clause to clarify liability."
"She spent the afternoon amending the contract to reflect the new terms."
"They are amending their policy to include data privacy protections."
"After feedback, he began amending the report to correct typos and misstatements."
Amending derives from the verb amend, which comes from the Old French amender, from amender/amendere meaning to correct, improve, or repair. The deeper root is Latin mendāre ‘to mend, repair,’ with mend- related to Latin mendus ‘to be faultless’ and more broadly to repair or correct. The -ing suffix marks the present participle/gerund form in English. The semantic shift centers on adjustment to improve correctness, legality, or fairness, rather than creating something wholly new. Early attestations of amending date from Middle English, evolving from ecclesiastical and legal contexts where documents and laws required periodic amendment. Over time, its usage broadened to everyday contexts—contracts, policies, and even plans—connoting careful, incremental improvement rather than radical rewrite. In law, “amending” often implies a formal process filed with a legislative body or court, with specific procedural requirements. In modern usage, it frequently appears in both formal documents and casual discussions about revising statements or agreements. The word retains a sense of precision and improvement, rather than disruption, which mirrors its etymological lineage from mend- and amend- roots focused on correction and betterment. In sum, amending signals deliberate, targeted change to enhance accuracy and fairness within an existing framework.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "amending" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "amending" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "amending" and show contrast in usage.
📚 Vocabulary tip: Learning synonyms and antonyms helps you understand nuanced differences in meaning and improves your word choice in speaking and writing.
Words that rhyme with "amending"
-ing sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
🎵 Rhyme tip: Practicing with rhyming words helps you master similar sound patterns and improves your overall pronunciation accuracy.
Pronounce as ə-MEN-ding with stress on the second syllable. IPA: US/UK/AU [əˈmɛn.dɪŋ]. Start with a neutral schwa /ə/, then a clear /ˈmɛn/ cluster, finishing with a short, lax /dɪŋ/. Ensure the /d/ links smoothly into the velar nasal /ŋ/. Avoid inserting a strong /æ/ or extra syllable; keep it concise: uh-MEN-ding.
Two common errors are misplacing stress or over-emphasizing the first syllable, and mispronouncing the final -ing as /ɪŋ/ with a tense vowel. Correct by keeping primary stress on the second syllable: ə-MEN-ding, and ending with a light /dɪŋ/ rather than a crisp /dɪŋ/ with extra vowel. Practice sliding smoothly from /mɛn/ into /dɪŋ/, avoiding a prolonged /mɛn/ before the /d/.
In US/UK/Australian accents, primary stress remains on the second syllable: ə-MEN-ding. The differences lie in vowel quality: US often has a tighter /ɪ/ in the final syllable, UK may have a slightly more clipped /ˈmɛn.dɪŋ/ with less vowel reduction, and AU tends to a more centralized /əˈmɛn.dɪŋ/ with a softer /ˈmɛn/ and slightly clearer /dɪŋ/. Rhoticity is minor here; /r/ is not present. Overall, the core rhythm stays trochaic, but vowel height and duration can shift subtly by accent.
Difficulties stem from the sequence of consonants ending in /m/ + /ɛn/ + /dɪŋ/ and the need for a smooth transition into the velar nasal /ŋ/. The /d/ blends into the /ɪŋ/ without a strong stop, which many learners over-articulate. Also, the unstressed schwa in the first syllable can be reduced if hurried. Focus on a light /d/ release into /ɪŋ/ and maintain the secondary stress on /ˈmɛn/.
The word carries a deliberate revision sense; pronounce with clear secondary stress on the /ˈmɛn/ portion in careful speech, and avoid elongating the initial syllable. While the first syllable is unstressed, it should still be clearly articulated as /ə/ rather than a full phoneme like /eɪ/. The most noticeable feature is the strong /mɛn/ onset followed by a swift /dɪŋ/—aim for a quick but clean transition, not a lumped /mɛn.dɪŋ/.
🗣️ Voice search tip: These questions are optimized for voice search. Try asking your voice assistant any of these questions about "amending"!
No related words found
