Tentative and Tenterhooks

Tentative and Tenterhooks Tentative and Tenterhooks Tentative and Tenterhooks By Maeve Maddox The other day I listened to a radio interview in which the subject continually pronounced the word tentative without one of its ts. Tentative has three ts: ten-ta-tive (not ten-a-tive). Another t word that often has its medial t messed with is tenterhook. Its an old word derived from cloth-making, but it remains current in the expression to be on tenterhooks, i.e., to be in a state of painful suspense. Ive heard people say tenderhooks. Tentative derives from Latin tentatus, a form of the verb tentare, to feel, to try. Its another form of temptare, to feel, to try, to test. which gives us the English word temptation. A tenter was a wooden framework for stretching cloth. It derives from Latin tentus, stretched. A tenter hook held the cloth on the tenter. Some will argue that these pronunciations are merely differences of region or dialect. Whatever the cause, pronouncing them that way leads to misspelling them and misspelled words damage the writers credibility. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Spelling category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Using "a" and "an" Before WordsStory Writing 10110 Varieties of Syntax to Improve Your Writing