made amends

USAGE SUMMARY

"made amends" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It means to make up for a wrong or mistake that was previously made. Example: After realizing how hurtful his words had been, John apologized to his friend and made amends by taking her out for dinner and sending her a heartfelt apology letter.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

General

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But tonight he made amends.

The New York Times - Sports

Juventus made amends very soon.

The Guardian - Sport

Ultimately, Jeter and the Boss made amends.

The New York Times - Sports

Fleury made amends midway through the period.

The New York Times - Sports

Now I have hopefully made amends.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

And yet, he does not appear to have made amends.

The New York Times - Books

The Irishman made amends in the ninth minute, however.

The Guardian - Sport

Even when he made mistakes, Woods quickly made amends.

The New York Times - Sports

"Then we [played] Please Please Me – so we made amends".

The Guardian - Music

Since then they have made amends and done valuable work.

The New York Times - Arts

When the old man died in 2001, Edward made amends.

The Guardian - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "made amends", ensure the context clearly indicates the action that was taken to rectify the situation. Specificity enhances clarity and strengthens the impact of the statement.

Common error

Avoid using "made amends" when a simple apology suffices. This phrase implies tangible actions beyond words, like restitution or significant behavioral changes. If only an apology was offered, it's more accurate to say someone "apologized" rather than "made amends".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "made amends" functions as a verb phrase, indicating an action taken to correct a mistake or wrong. Ludwig confirms this, showcasing its use in sentences where individuals or entities actively try to repair past actions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Sport

20%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Academia

2%

Science

8%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "made amends" is a widely used and grammatically correct way to express the act of correcting a wrong or repairing a relationship. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage and provides numerous examples across various contexts, including news, sports, and general writing. As noted by Ludwig, the phrase indicates that someone has acknowledged a mistake and taken action to rectify the situation. While the phrase holds a neutral to professional register, it's important to use it when tangible actions have been taken, distinguishing it from a simple apology. This makes "made amends" a powerful and specific way to communicate efforts toward reconciliation and repair.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Made up for

A more casual way of saying one has corrected a mistake.

Atoned for

Emphasizes regret and actions taken to seek forgiveness.

Righted the wrong

Emphasizes correcting an injustice or error.

Compensated for

Indicates a direct repayment or offset of something.

Rectified the situation

Focuses on correcting or improving a negative condition.

Redeemed oneself

Focuses on restoring one's reputation or honor.

Made reparations

Highlights the act of repairing or paying back for damages.

Set things right

Implies actions taken to correct a wrong or injustice.

Addressed the grievance

Highlights resolving a complaint or source of unhappiness.

Resolved the issue

Focuses on finding a solution to a problem or dispute.

FAQs

How can I use "made amends" in a sentence?

You can use "made amends" to indicate that someone has taken action to correct a wrong or repair a relationship. For example, "After realizing his mistake, John apologized and "made amends" by volunteering his time."

What's a good synonym for "made amends"?

Synonyms for "made amends" include "atoned for", "made up for", or "compensated for". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nature of the actions taken.

Is it appropriate to use "made amends" in formal writing?

Yes, "made amends" is appropriate for formal writing. It is a clear and concise way to express that someone has taken action to correct a wrong or repair damage. The level of formality depends on the tone of the writing.

What's the difference between "apologized" and "made amends"?

"Apologized" simply means expressing regret, while "made amends" implies taking concrete actions to correct a wrong or repair damage. You can apologize without making amends, but making amends usually includes an apology.