Grammar fix
make amends for something
repair harm caused
To try to repair the harm or trouble caused by something you did wrong.
expression
How oftenNow and then
LevelB2
Used inSpeech & writing
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
He apologised and tried to make amends for the hurtful things he had said.
If I upset someone, I try to make amends for it by apologising properly and changing my behaviour.
Fix the pattern
One small grammar move makes it sound right.
Not: He made an amend for his mistake.
Say: He made amends for his mistake.
The expression is normally plural: 'make amends for'.
Don't confuse it
Other ways to say it
Do something good to fix a wrong
How formalConversationalMore formal
make up forProvide something good to balance a mistake, loss, or disappointment.
make amends for somethingYou're here · Try to repair harm caused by your own wrongdoing.
compensate for somethingMore formal and impersonal: something good balances out a loss or disadvantage ('The low rent compensates for the location'). It's not about apologising for something you did wrong; for that, use 'make amends' or 'make up for'.