LawProse Lessons

Tenses (2). Today: Sequence of Tenses. The term “sequence of tenses” refers to the relationship of tenses in subordinate clauses to those in principal clauses. Generally, the former follow from the latter. In careful writing, the tenses agree both logically and grammatically. The basic rules of tense sequence are easily stated, although the many examples

Tenses (1). Today: Generally. The following shows the basic tenses in English with the verb “be” conjugated in the indicative mood, showing the singular and plural forms for the first, second, and third person. Present Tense 1st person: I am / We are 2nd person: You are / You are 3rd person: He, she, or

Miscellaneous Entries. tenderfoot (= a newcomer or beginner) forms the plural “tenderfoots,” as the majority of dictionaries recommend. tendinitis; *tendonitis. “Tendinitis” = inflammation of a tendon. *"Tendonitis" is incorrectly arrived at by association with the spelling of the noun “tendon.” Tennessean; *Tennesseean. The first is standard; the second is a variant spelling. Although the final

Tennyson. The formal name of the 19th-century poet laureate is “Alfred, Lord Tennyson.” But writers often mistakenly write *”Lord Alfred Tennyson” — e.g.: o “Harrogate had become the culture capital of Northern England, attracting such celebrities as Charles Dickens, Lord Alfred Tennyson [read ‘Alfred, Lord Tennyson’], George Bernard Shaw and Sir Edward Elgar, as well

tenet. “Tenet” (= a doctrine or basic belief, dogma) is sometimes confounded with the similar-sounding “tenant” (= [1] one who has a leasehold, a lessee; or [2] an inhabitant, dweller). The result is linguistically untenable — e.g.: o “The Clinton legislation, which embraces many of the tenants [read ‘tenets’] supported in education legislation passed in

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 (2). Today: For “contentious.” “Tendentious” (= one-sided) is occasionally confused with “contentious” (= combative) — e.g.: o “The structure represents Selig’s vision for his sport — the opportunity to soar beyond the tendentious [read ‘contentious’] labor struggles that have bedeviled baseball for decades and into an era of not only prosperity, but peace.” Teri

tendentious (1). Today: Generally. “Tendentious” = (of a writing, etc.) tending to promote a given viewpoint; biased. The word appears much more commonly in British English than in American English — e.g.: o “The Whitehall information code says no press release should contain tendentious or politically biased material.” David Hencke, “Whitehall Press Officers Sound Off,”

teenage, adj.; *teen-age; *teenaged; *teen-aged. The first is the standard spelling. The others are variant forms. telephonic. Although “telephone” ordinarily serves as its own adjective {telephone call} {telephone directory}, “telephonic” proves useful to avoid miscues in some contexts — e.g.: “Just when you thought you were learning to live with voice mail, a new telephonic

“Tend” = (1) to be predisposed to [something]; or (2) to look after or care for. Sense 2 is a Middle English shortening of “attend.” It is sometimes wrongly made “tender,” more commonly in British English than in American English — e.g.: o “She witnessed Neilson fall repeatedly into her carefully tendered [read ‘tended’] flower

These verbs have distinct uses that most native speakers of English instinctively understand. Idiomatically speaking, you “say” that something is so, or you “tell” someone that something is so. “Tell,” in other words, needs a personal direct object. You don’t “tell” that something is so — e.g.: o “After reviewing emergency procedures, he told [read

taxwise = (1) adv., viewed with taxes in mind {today, real estate is a better investment taxwise than it was a few years ago}; or (2) adj., (of an investment) undertaken in a way that minimizes taxes {the fund encourages taxwise investing}; (of an investor) prudent in taking measures to avoid taxes {when you set

“Teemed with” (= to abound; be in plentiful supply) should be followed by a count noun {the pond is teeming with fish} {our suggestion box is teeming with slips}. But sometimes it’s misused for “rich in,” when applied to abstract noncount nouns — e.g.: o “Lancaster County is teeming with [read ‘rich in’] history.” Donald

So inflected. *”Teached” is a form that isn’t taught anywhere and is no part of standard English. But it sometimes appears — e.g.: o “Bert John Berghorst worked with the Hope Summer Repertory Theatre and formerly teached [read ‘taught’] at the West Ottawa schools.” “Teacher, Theater Figure Discovered Dead in Home,” Grand Rapids Press, 26

Today: And “taunt,” n. & vb. “Taunt is both a verb (“to provoke with sarcasm or insults”) and a noun (“a sarcastic, provocative gibe”). Unfortunately, writers are increasingly confusing that word with the adjective “taut” (= tightly stretched [literally or figuratively]) — e.g.: o “He and Tucker, who goes by the name Chongo, tinkered with