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I wonder if Jolan or some of the other masters of the art could give guidance on the use of the words amend and emend.

Thanks.

P

From Chambers:-

amend: to free from fault or error; to correct; to improve, etc., etc.

emend: to make alterations in with a view to improving (a text); to remove faults or blemishes from (now rare.

It sems to me therefore that emend is more a process of editing.

Thank you, AJT. The clue was Revise(6), and I wrote amend. Your explanation clearly shows that this should have been emend. Ah well, another unfilled place in the trophy cabinet.

Thanks again. P.

But you don't know what maning the setter gives to it, do you? Interesting to see the solution. You don't often see "emend" in text now, do you?

I have similar problems about enquire and inquire. Sometimes one just looks right or wrong. For example my local electrical shop has 'Inquiries welcome' which to me looks wrong but I suppose it technically passes muster.

AJT The only time emend seems to occur is in crosswords, thereby denying me my prize.

Neil, I tend to regard enquire as to ask, whereas inquire seems more like looking into or investigating the reasons for something. Could be wrong, of course.

Hence my problem with my local shop. Perhaps they are inviting Watchdog in !

I've always thought inquire was the US spelling. I'm probably wrong.

How perfectly delightful to be pedantic!

Back to Chambers:-

enquire: see inquire

inquire: inquire or enquire - to ask a question, etc.

I take it we are acepting Chambers as our authority?

are you asking or inquiring or enquiring.