[Vocabulary] tend vs. tend to

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cheers100

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Hello!

An online Dictionary instructs "tend" is a transitive verb, with an illustration as below, when it means look after.


v.tr.1. To have the care of; watch over; look after: tend a child.
Here's URL
tend - definition of tend by the Free Online Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia.


But I found "tend to some" from Washington Post. Here's the snippet with the URL link.

You can let your closest work friends know you’re tending to a family matter, while assuring (and ensuring) that their needs will still be met on time. And try not to take advantage of their sympathy.
@Work Advice: - The Washington Post


How should I use "tend someone" and "tend to someone" when it comes to "look after"?


Many thanks!
 

emsr2d2

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Hello!

An online Dictionary instructs "tend" is a transitive verb, with an illustration as below, when it means look after.

v.tr.1. To have the care of; watch over; look after: tend a child.

Here's URL
tend - definition of tend by the Free Online Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia.


But I found "tend to some" from Washington Post. Here's the snippet with the URL link.

You can let your closest work friends know you’re tending to a family matter, while assuring (and ensuring) that their needs will still be met on time. And try not to take advantage of their sympathy.


@Work Advice: - The Washington Post


How should I use "tend someone" and "tend to someone" when it comes to "look after"?


Many thanks!

Had it been written by a Washington Post journalist, it should have been "attending to a family matter". However, the letter was submitted to the newspaper by a member of the public so it was she who made the error. Newspapers generally don't correct spelling/grammar errors in readers' letters.

Edit: Apologies - I just realised that the offending sentence was written by the journalist/writer for the Washington Post magazine so, in my opinion, it's an error.
 

MikeNewYork

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I don't think the use of "tending" here was a mistake. The same dictionary that the OP cited (American Heritage) defines one use of "intransitive tend" as "To apply one's attention; attend". They seem to be synonyms in that use.
 
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