Amend vs. Append — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 31, 2023
To amend is to alter or modify something already existing, often to correct or improve it, while to append is to add something new to the end of a document or text.
Difference Between Amend and Append
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
To amend means to make changes to documents or statements, typically with the aim of correcting errors or updating information. Amendments can involve deletions, additions, or other revisions. Conversely, to append is to attach or add new material to the end of a document or text, without altering the original content.
Amendments are often made to improve clarity, address previous oversights, or adapt to new information. When a document is amended, it undergoes a process of change and correction. In contrast, appendices are supplementary material added to the end of a document, often providing additional information that is relevant but not essential to the main text.
The action to amend is to refine or enhance something that already exists. It is a term often used in legal and legislative contexts, where precision and accuracy are crucial. Appending, however, involves extending or enlarging a document by adding new content, which can be an annex, addendum, or supplement.
Amending requires a careful evaluation of what is already there and making precise adjustments. This act is generally aimed at making a system, text, or legislation more fair, up to date, or just. Appending does not alter the existing text; instead, it provides extra information, which can be an extension or continuation without modifying the original content.
An amendment is a formal change to a bill or constitution, reflecting a significant modification of the content. An appendix, on the other hand, is an addition to the end of a scholarly article or book, often containing raw data, detailed calculations, or a bibliography, which contributes to a comprehensive understanding of the work.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
To change or modify something.
To add something to the end.
Purpose
Correction or improvement.
Providing additional information.
Context
Legal, legislative, editing texts.
Scholarly work, books, documents.
Effect on Original Text
Changes the existing material.
Does not change, but adds to the material.
Nature of Action
Revising, correcting, updating.
Extending, supplementing, enlarging.
Compare with Definitions
Amend
Revise
She amended her essay based on the feedback received.
Append
Add as supplement
She appended her notes to the end of the report.
Amend
Alter officially
The policy was amended to include recent developments.
Append
Attach
The author appended a glossary to the book.
Amend
Modify
They voted to amend the bylaws of the organization.
Append
Add on
Appendices were appended to the thesis for additional data.
Amend
Improve
He amended the software to fix the bugs.
Append
Annex
He appended his signature to the letter.
Amend
Make minor changes to (a text, piece of legislation, etc.) in order to make it fairer or more accurate, or to reflect changing circumstances
The rule was amended to apply only to non-members
Append
In computer programming, append is the operation for concatenating linked lists or arrays in some high-level programming languages.
Amend
Improve the texture or fertility of (soil)
Amend your soil with peat moss or compost
Append
Add (something) to the end of a written document
The results of the survey are appended to this chapter
Amend
To change for the better; improve
"The confinement appeared to have had very little effect in amending his conduct" (Horatio Alger).
Append
To add as a supplement or appendix
Appended a list of errors to the report.
Amend
To alter the wording of (a legal document, for example) so as to make more suitable or acceptable.
Append
To fix to; attach
Append a charm to the bracelet.
Amend
To enrich (soil), especially by mixing in organic matter or sand.
Append
(transitive) To hang or attach to, as by a string, so that the thing is suspended
A seal appended to a record
An inscription was appended to the column.
Amend
To better one's conduct; reform.
Append
(transitive) To add, as an accessory to the principal thing; to annex
Notes appended to a book chapter
Amend
(transitive) To make better; improve.
Append
(computing) To write more data to the end of a pre-existing file, string, or other object.
Amend
(intransitive) To become better.
Append
(computing) An instance of writing more data to the end of an existing file.
Amend
To heal (someone sick); to cure (a disease etc.).
Append
To hang or attach to, as by a string, so that the thing is suspended; as, a seal appended to a record; the inscription was appended to the column.
Amend
To be healed, to be cured, to recover (from an illness).
Append
To add, as an accessory to the principal thing; to annex; as, notes appended to this chapter.
A further purpose appended to the primary one.
Amend
(transitive) To make a formal alteration (in legislation, a report, etc.) by adding, deleting, or rephrasing.
Append
Add to the very end;
He appended a glossary to his novel where he used an invented language
Amend
An act of righting a wrong; compensation.
Append
Fix to; attach;
Append a charm to the necklace
Amend
Clip of amendment
I've sent over a new version of the doc with some amends.
Append
State or say further;
`It doesn't matter,' he supplied
Amend
To change or modify in any way for the better
Mar not the thing that can not be amended.
An instant emergency, granting no possibility for revision, or opening for amended thought.
We shall cheer her sorrows, and amend her blood, by wedding her to a Norman.
Append
Include at the end
Important references were appended to the document.
Amend
To grow better by rectifying something wrong in manners or morals; to improve.
Amend
Make amendments to;
Amend the document
Amend
To make better;
The editor improved the manuscript with his changes
Amend
Set straight or right;
Remedy these deficiencies
Rectify the inequities in salaries
Repair an oversight
Amend
Make better
The constitution was amended to promote equality.
Common Curiosities
Can you amend any part of a text?
Yes, amendments can be made to any part that requires correction or improvement.
What does it mean to append something?
To add it to the end of a document without altering the original content.
Are amended items always removed?
No, amending can also involve adding or rewriting sections, not just removing them.
What does it mean to amend a document?
To revise or correct it to make it more accurate or up-to-date.
Where do you typically append material?
Material is typically appended at the end of a document.
How does appending affect a document's structure?
Appending adds to the document without changing its existing structure.
Can something be both amended and appended?
Yes, a document can undergo amendments and also have material appended to it.
Is amending a document the same as editing?
Amending usually refers to formal or substantive changes, while editing can also include minor corrections.
Do all documents allow amendments?
Some documents, like certain legal contracts, may not allow amendments after they're finalized.
Can an appendix be several pages long?
Yes, an appendix can be of any length, as long as it's relevant.
Is an appendix part of the main text?
No, it's supplemental material added at the end of the main text.
Do amendments change the original intent of a document?
They can, especially if the amendments are significant, but often they enhance or clarify the original intent.
Who decides if a document needs amending?
This depends on the context; it could be an author, legislative body, or governing authority.
Who can append material to a document?
Typically, the author or someone with authority over the document can append material.
What is typically found in an appendix?
An appendix may contain raw data, extended quotations, or detailed methodology.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
