made some amends

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "made some amends" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of making reparations or correcting a mistake in a relationship or situation. Example: "After our argument, I realized I needed to apologize and made some amends to restore our friendship."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

Her medal made some amends for the slight disappointment of the team bronze.

The Guardian - Sport

Skerla made some amends with a sliding tackle that denied Prso, who showed his lack of pace by being caught up after being put clean through.

The Guardian - Sport

Kim made some amends with this year's Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter... and Spring, a semi-abstract Buddhist parable set on a tiny floating monastery.

The Guardian - Film

Unfettered by tubes and unpestered by hovering medics, he reminisced and made some amends, exchanged jokes and assurances of love with his family, received Catholic rites and managed to swallow a communion host that was probably his last meal.

The New York Times

In a powerful speech to a packed Dáil Eireann, Kenny made some amends for what many view as a major error of judgment on the day the report was released.

The Guardian

Not only had I confessed and made some amends to the flesh and blood of the man I had wronged two generations before, I had been forgiven by someone with a generous heart before I had repaid a penny.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

The Thalberg award, however, should make some amends.

The Guardian - Film

In this piece of longform writing for Sports Illustrated, Michael McKnight makes some amends for that.

The Guardian - Sport

Mr. Castro's lawyer, Michael C. Farkas, said the assemblyman decided to cooperate with the government because he thought "he could do some good and make some amends".

The New York Times

West End Rocker revelled in the conditions, winning the Becher Chase by 22 lengths, making some amends for his being brought down at the eponymous hazard in April.

Independent

In 1828, two years after Hastings's death, members of the India House, to make some amends for their vote of censure, gave £20,000 to trustees for the benefit of Hastings's son.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "made some amends" when you want to emphasize that actions were taken to correct a mistake or wrong, but not necessarily to fully compensate for it. It implies a partial correction or attempt at reconciliation.

Common error

Avoid using "made some amends" if the correction was complete or fully compensated for the initial wrong. In such cases, use stronger terms like "fully compensated" or "completely rectified" to accurately reflect the situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "made some amends" functions as a verb phrase indicating an action taken to correct or compensate for a previous mistake or wrongdoing. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Sport

19%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Science

8%

Formal & Business

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "made some amends" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase that suggests an effort to correct a mistake or wrongdoing. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is useful and appropriate across various contexts, primarily in News & Media and Sport, indicating attempts at rectification. While synonyms like "atoned for" or "compensated for" exist, "made some amends" specifically implies a partial or incomplete correction. When using the phrase, ensure that the context accurately reflects the extent of the corrective action taken.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

made reparations

Emphasizes the act of repairing damage or making amends for a wrong.

redressed the wrong

Focuses on correcting an injustice or unfair situation.

atoned for

Focuses on making up for a wrongdoing, often with a sense of regret or repentance.

made up for

Indicates an effort to compensate for a deficiency or error.

compensated for

Highlights the act of providing something to offset a loss or damage.

offered restitution

Suggests providing compensation for loss or harm.

rectified the situation

Indicates a correction or improvement of a negative situation.

corrected the error

Highlights the action of fixing a mistake.

set things right

Suggests an action to correct an imbalance or injustice.

expiated

This word implies purification from guilt through some act of atonement.

FAQs

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

You can use "made some amends" to indicate that someone has taken action to correct a mistake or wrongdoing, such as, "After the argument, she apologized and "made some amends" to restore their friendship".

What are some alternatives to "made some amends"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "atoned for", "made reparations", or "compensated for".

Is it better to say "made some amends" or "made amends"?

Both "made some amends" and "made amends" are grammatically correct. "Made amends" implies a more complete resolution, while "made some amends" suggests a partial correction or attempt to reconcile.

What is the difference between "apologized" and "made some amends"?

"Apologized" refers to expressing remorse for a wrongdoing, while "made some amends" indicates taking action to correct or compensate for the wrongdoing. Apologizing is often a first step, but "making some amends" involves concrete actions to repair the damage.