Alter vs Change vs Gonna need to amend that vs Modify vs Revise

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Alter

Beyond 10,000 (less common) B2 verb

Change

Top 1,000 (very common) A1 verb

Gonna need to amend that

Informal Top 3,000 (common)

Modify

Top 2,000 (common) B2 verb

Revise

Top 1,000 (very common) B1 verb

	Alter	Change	Gonna need to amend that	Modify	Revise
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 //ˈɔːltə// 🇺🇸 //ˈɔltɚ//	🇬🇧 /["/tʃeɪndʒ/","/ˈtʃeɪndʒɪz/","/tʃeɪndʒd/","/ˈtʃeɪndʒɪŋ/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/tʃeɪndʒ/","/ˈtʃeɪndʒɪz/","/tʃeɪndʒd/","/ˈtʃeɪndʒɪŋ/"]/	🇬🇧 //ˈɡɒnə niːd tə əˈmɛnd ðæt// 🇺🇸 //ˈɡɑːnə nid tə əˈmɛnd ðæt//	🇬🇧 /["/ˈmɒdɪfaɪ/","/ˈmɒdɪfaɪz/","/ˈmɒdɪfaɪd/","/ˈmɒdɪfaɪɪŋ/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈmɑːdɪfaɪ/","/ˈmɑːdɪfaɪz/","/ˈmɑːdɪfaɪd/","/ˈmɑːdɪfaɪɪŋ/"]/	🇬🇧 //rɪˈvaɪz// 🇺🇸 //rɪˈvaɪz//
Meaning	To change something.	to make something different	You need to change that.	Change something to make it better or different.	To study or change something to improve it.
Example	The dress was altered to fit better.	I decided to change my hairstyle for the summer.	We're gonna need to amend that proposal before submission.	You can modify the document by adding new sections.	I need to revise my notes before the exam.
Register	Neutral	Neutral	Informal	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Beyond 10,000 (less common)	Top 1,000 (very common)	Top 3,000 (common)	Top 2,000 (common)	Top 1,000 (very common)
CEFR level	B2	A1	-	B2	B1
Part of speech	verb	verb		verb	verb
Collocations	alter the course, alter the agreement, alter the design, alter behavior, alter personality	considerably, dramatically, drastically, from, into, to, change out of all recognition, considerably, dramatically, drastically, from, into, to, change out of all recognition, considerably, dramatically, drastically, from, into, to, change out of all recognition	gonna need to amend a report, gonna need to amend a document, gonna need to amend a procedure, gonna need to amend the plan, gonna need to amend your statement	considerably, drastically, extensively, have to, need to, for, highly modified, in a modified form, modified to fit something	revise for an exam, revise a document, revise a proposal, revise your work, revise a plan
Antonyms	preserve, maintain, retain	remain, stay	-	maintain, preserve, keep	ignore, neglect, overlook
Common mistakes	Confusing with 'change' - 'alter' usually implies a more significant adjustment., Using 'alter' without an object - it should always follow an object., Incorrectly using 'altered' as a noun.	Confused with 'exchange' which means to swap something., Using 'change' without an object, e.g., saying 'I change' instead of 'I change my clothes'., 'Changed' and 'change' misused in verb forms.	Confusing 'amend' with 'fix' when the context requires more specific changes., Using 'gonna' in formal situations where 'going to' is more appropriate., Incorrectly assuming all changes require an amendment; some may be simple fixes.	Confusing with 'modification', which is the noun form., Using 'modify' without an object, which is incorrect., Overusing 'modify' instead of synonyms like 'change' or 'adjust' in casual speech.	Confused with 'review'; 'revise' implies making changes, while 'review' means to look over., Using 'revise' without an object; it should always be 'revise something'., Using 'revise' in contexts that require 'edit'; be sure to consider the difference.
Usage notes	Use 'alter' when you want to indicate a change or modification. It is more formal than 'change'. Avoid using it for very minor or trivial adjustments.	Use 'change' when talking about making modifications or alterations. It's appropriate in both spoken and written English, in casual or formal contexts. Avoid using it in a situation that requires a more specific term, like 'transform' or 'alter'.	Use 'gonna need to amend that' in casual conversations when suggesting a change. It's too informal for formal writing.	Use 'modify' when discussing changes to plans, documents, or objects. It's neutral, so it's appropriate in most contexts, such as academic or business settings.	Use 'revise' when talking about reviewing materials or making improvements. It's common in academic contexts but can also apply to work projects. Avoid using it in casual conversations.

See it in real clips

Top Gear › S1 E1

which means they're going to change the bumpers and the bonnet

- Unimportant? Oh, here, you try it. - No, nobody wants to change.

Succession › S1 E1

And you never lawyered the trust change.

Top Gear › S1 E1

which means they're going to change the bumpers and the bonnet

- Unimportant? Oh, here, you try it. - No, nobody wants to change.

Change

Avengers › Avengers Endgame

so someone's gonna need to amend that

Gonna need to amend that

Frequently asked questions: Alter vs Change vs Gonna need to amend that vs Modify vs Revise

What's the difference between Alter, Change, Gonna need to amend that, Modify, and Revise?

Alter: To change something. Change: to make something different Gonna need to amend that: You need to change that. Modify: Change something to make it better or different. Revise: To study or change something to improve it.

Can you show an example of each?

Alter: The dress was altered to fit better. Change: I decided to change my hairstyle for the summer. Gonna need to amend that: We're gonna need to amend that proposal before submission. Modify: You can modify the document by adding new sections. Revise: I need to revise my notes before the exam.

Can I use Alter, Change, Gonna need to amend that, Modify, and Revise interchangeably?

Not always. Alter, Change, Gonna need to amend that, Modify, and Revise are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.