Say it like this
- Amend the PR before we merge
- I will amend the code based on your feedback
- Can you amend the commit message?
Use it at work
In Git
- I'll amend the last commit to fix the typo.
- Don't amend commits that are already pushed to main.
Updating a document
- I've amended the proposal based on your comments.
- Can we amend the contract to include support hours?
In a review
- Please amend the PR description to explain the change.
- I amended the test, so it should pass now.
Don't say this
Amend suggests targeted changes, not large-scale rewrites. Use 'refactor' or 'rebuild' for bigger work.
Practice
Try it
4 quick exercises
1. Your code reviewer wants you to make small changes. What is the most natural way to say it?
2. Before we merge this branch, we need to _______ the error handling logic.
3. Which sentence uses amend incorrectly?
4. Rewrite using 'amend': 'We need to make some small changes to the code before we put it live.'
Say it out loud
Phrase 1 of 3
"Amend the PR before we merge"
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More about amend
Real examples(3)
- in a code review
"The reviewer said, 'Please amend this pull request to include error handling for edge cases.'"
- in a standup
"Today I need to amend the authentication module after yesterday's security audit."
- in a team meeting
"We should amend the deployment script to support the new server configuration."
More mistakes(2)
Handle with care. Do not confuse with 'amend' as a legal term; in tech, it means to make changes to code or documents, not to formally alter agreements.
- ✕I amended the bug in production.✓I fixed the bug in production. / I amended the code to fix the bug.
You amend code, not bugs directly. Be clear about what you changed.
- ✕Can you amend this for me?✓Can you review this and suggest amendments? / Can you help me amend this?
Amend implies the speaker is making the change themselves. If asking someone else, ask them to review or help.
Other forms(4)
- amend verb (base form)
"I will amend the code before Monday."
- amended verb (past tense)
"She amended the pull request after feedback."
- amending verb (present participle)
"We are amending the deployment script right now."
- amendment noun
"The amendment to the API was approved."
Often used with(5)
- amend + pull request / PR · Most common collocation in tech; means to update changes before merging
- amend + code · Generic use; means to modify source code
- amend + commit · Used with Git; means to change a commit message or add files to a commit
- amend + documentation · To update or correct written technical documentation
- request an amendment / suggest amendments · To ask someone to make changes
Similar words(4)
- modify · More general; can refer to larger or smaller changes
- update · Broader term; often used for adding new features or improvements
- fix · More specific to bugs; less formal than amend
- revise · Similar meaning; slightly more formal, often used for documents
Opposites(3)
- approve
- finalize
- merge
Questions(5)
- What does amend mean in software engineering?
- In software engineering, amend means to make targeted changes or corrections to code, a pull request, or documentation. It implies making intentional, focused improvements before finalizing or merging the work.
- How do you use amend in a sentence at work?
- You can say: 'Please amend the PR based on the review comments', 'I need to amend this function', or 'Can you help me amend the deployment script?' It is used when discussing code changes in standups, code reviews, and team meetings.
- Is amend formal or informal?
- Amend is neutral in formality. It is professional enough for formal code reviews and documentation, but casual enough for daily standups and team chats. It is more deliberate and planned-sounding than simple words like 'fix' or 'change'.
- How is amend different from fix?
- Fix is more specific to bugs and problems, while amend refers to any intentional changes or improvements. Amend sounds more formal and planned, whereas fix sounds more urgent or reactive.
- Can you amend code in production?
- In technical terms, yes, but in workplace conversation, 'amend' usually refers to code before it is merged or deployed. If you need to make changes to production code, people may say 'patch' or 'hotfix' instead.
