Page:A Desk-Book of Errors in English.djvu/223

Rh, together with the vehicle to which the animals are attached.

tell on: A common expression with children used in the sense of "to inform against a person," is derived from Biblical use (1 Sam. xxvii. 11). The phrase lost to literary English has now no equivalent.

temper, anger, wrath: Words in the use of which discrimination should be used. Temper is disposition or constitution of the mind, especially in relation to the affections or the passions; anger is violence or vindicated passion aroused by real or imaginary insult or injury. One may have an irritable temper without being necessarily angry. Wrath is deep, determined, and lasting anger, usually accompanied by outward expression of displeasure. Anger may be only inward feeling without the outward expression of passion.

tender should not be used for "give." You tender a payment; give a reception.

testimony. Compare.

than as a conjunction should be used only in the case of direct comparison; as, "I esteem this more than that." When the comparison is merely implied, or covered by the verb, as by the verb prefer, than should not be used. See.

thanks has been condemned as an undignified colloquialism bordering on incivility; but what serious objection is there to this pithy acknowledgment of