tenure; tender.
“Tenure” (= [1] a holding by right, as of an elected office; [2] the time spent in such an office; or [3] an entitlement to a professional position, esp. at a university, with protection against dismissal) is sometimes used where the intent was “tender,” vb. (= to offer something, esp. in settlement of a debt or a dispute). When the thing being tendered is a resignation, this malapropism is particularly absurd — e.g.:
o “The acting Governor refused to get involved, and so McClure tenured [read ‘tendered’] his resignation.” David G. Tosifon, “Mass. Boxing Chief Spars with Fellow Commissioner, Resigns,” Bay State Banner, 20 Aug. 1998, at 2.
o “In an executive session Monday, Farkas tenured [read ‘tendered’] her resignation, offering 60 days’ notice.” Meghan Hershey, “Mount Joy Manager Resigns After 5 Months,” Lancaster New Era/Intelligencer Journal, 3 Oct. 2001, at B6.
o “Talley, who tenured [read ‘tendered’] his resignation letter Friday, said he was stepping down . . . because he is too busy.” Tony J. Taylor, “Talley Resigns from Converse Board,” Spartanburg Herald-J. (S.C.), 14 Nov. 2001, at C1.
Language-Change Index — “tenure” misused for “tender”: Stage 1.
For information about the Language-Change Index click here.
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Quotation of the Day: “Avoid frequent repetition of a character’s name; identify him or her with a pronoun or descriptive phrase. Few things are more annoying than the overuse of a name.” David L. Carroll, A Manual of Writer’s Tricks 55 (2d ed. 1995).
