emend

Amend just means to change (for better, for worse). Emend means to put right.

I have scissors and a red pen, and I'm not afraid to use them! ;-)

Probably because it reminds you of cutting tags off pillows!

Dicing--I like that description!

Sounds about right to me. On at least a connotative level, I think amend means to add to something, with the goal of improving it; but emend means to change it more radically, dicing it to bits if necessary, in order to fix it completely.

U, that's a good course of action. Take it from me. ;-)

Yes, to amend something is to alter it (usually for the better); to emend is to correct, especially printed text. Amend derives from the old French "to free from fault," and I think emend derives from both Latin and that same French root.

Seanahan, I think the original meaning of amenable was "to bring before" or "to lead," interpreted as answerable to laws or jurisdictions. Somewhere along the way, the meaning shifted a bit to become "disposed to answer or respond."

I need to find a significant other who can cook, or I'm a lost cause. My diet is unhealthy, my budget worse!

And U, u had best amend your constitution while there is time! It's for your own good, you know. ;-)

I can't say in terms of etymology. However, in practice amend seems to be the more general term, meaning to improve to to rectify something. I think emend is usually more specific to editing text.

Is there some connotational difference between emend and amend? Likewise, is there some difference between emendable and amenable?

Libertarian, Presbyterian...what do I care? I cut TAGS off stuff, pal!

I'm a libertarian, you think I care about you? ;-)

And you're calling Homeland Security on me? Hmph.

Eh, I'm pretty weak in that department. I should take more vitamins, or eat fewer frozen dinners. Maybe both. I'm downright unconstitutional.

Whose constitution? How's yer constitution?

And speaking of emending, I have been trying to think of the technical word that describes this howler:

I was editing a piece of writing for someone near and dear to me, and had a hard time convincing him that "Installing (you name the software) in a nutshell." was not a good header. The defense was reference to the series of "In a Nutshell" books.

It is a pretty funny image, I must say. Every time I think of it I laugh-groan.

Jeez, all this time and THAT'S what we should have been doing to the Constitution! Is it too late to change?

I try to emend my ways, but. . .

This always comes in handy at my job. :-)