tendentious (3).
Today: For “tendinitis.”
A surprising error is the substitution of “tendentious” for “tendinitis” (= inflammation of tendons in a joint). It probably results from trigger-happy users of spell-checkers — e.g.:
o “‘However, I don’t think my body can go another year at this intensity. I have had some lower back problems and patellar tendentious [read ‘tendinitis’] (jumper knees) so I want to leave the game healthy.'” “Long and Fruitful Career,” Spokesman-Rev. (Spokane) (Idaho ed.), 17 Nov. 2001, at H14 (quoting Lindsay Herbert).
o “The fashion-merchandising major did not compete as a sophomore because of knee surgery. She had struggled with patellar tendentious [read ‘tendinitis’] throughout her freshman year.” Chuck Cavalaris, “Simpson Sprints to Lead at Marshall,” Knoxville News-Sentinel, 16 May 2002, at D2.
o “About 45 minutes before Sunday’s game, Nets coach Byron Scott said starting point guard Jason Kidd was going to sit out because of tendentious [read ‘tendinitis’] in his left foot.” John Reid, “Nets’ Kittles Returns Home as a Pro,” Times-Picayune (New Orleans), 10 Mar. 2003, Sports §, at 6.
Language-Change Index — “tendentious” misused for “tendinitis”: Stage 1.
For information about the Language-Change Index click here.
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Quotation of the Day: “Always slice away the clutter in an argument.” John Humphrys, Lost for Words: The Mangling and Manipulating of the English Language 112 (2004).
