Template:Amend and supplement

Amend versus supplement versus modify

Is something missing from the notion “amend” that means it must be, well supplemented or even modified, to capture all lexical contortions to which a negotiating party might subject it from time to time? You will often see, “this agreement, as amended, supplemented or modified from time to time...”.

In this old fool’s opinion, no. To “amend” is to “change”. So is to “modify”. These words are exact synonyms. A language lover might argue that, of those three synonyms, “change” is the simplest and, therefore, best.

To “supplement” is not, quite a synonym: one might append something to the foot of an agreement that has absolutely no effect on its internal workings, the same way one might “supplement” a Morris Minor with a caravan and head off to Wales. (So loaded, your Morris Minor might struggle up the Chilterns, but it is still the same vehicle). But an agreement so supplemented isn’t changed, so there is no harm in neglecting to mention that supplement. If your supplement does operate to change the existing agreement then — well, it is an amendment, isn’t it? In that sense “supplement” is a synonym for “amend”.