在Paper写作时,我们发现许多常被误用的单字。以下列出几个常见的例子,并说明该单字的正确用法:
Anticipate vs Expect (预期 vs 期望)
Anticipate的意思是预见某事即将发生,并在事前做好充分准备。在此情况下,anticipate(预期)的意思与estimate(估计)、expect(期望)、presume(推测)或predict(预言)不同。例如,「expecting business to pick up」和「anticipating business will pick up」的意思不同。原因是,使用anticipate意味着,店家为了解决问题已有所因应,像是准备了更多存货,或者雇用更多员工;若使用expect则表示店家期盼生意好转,但是没有做任何因应的动作。
范例:
We anticipate a cold winter so we are buying extra coats.
We expect he will arrive at 4:00 p.m.
Dilemma vs Problem (困境 vs 问题)
Dilemma的字首「di-」和diphthong(双元音)和diarchy(双头政治)的字首意思相同,都表示「二的、双的」。因此,dilemma不仅是指存在已久的问题或难题,而是面临两个选择时,进退两难的处境。
范例:
Choosing between the conventional approach and Chen’s approach presented us with a dilemma. (Two options)
The problem with the conventional approach is…. (We are not told how many options we have.)
Plethora vs Abundance (过多 vs 丰富)
Plethora是指某物过多的状况,而非只是丰富、充足。这个字源自希腊文full(充满),因此只能用来描述某物的数量超过所需或可处理范围的情形。
范例:
He was overwhelmed by the plethora of forms he had to fill out. (Too much – often negative)
The famer had an abundant harvest of carrots. (More than expected – positive)
Refute vs Reject (驳斥 vs 驳回)
Refute的意思是驳斥、反驳,这个字并不是单纯的否定或驳回,而是进一步的以证据证明某事无效或错误。
范例:
The reviewer provided evidence that refuted the author’s claims. (Proved it wrong)
The editor rejected the paper. (Said no)
Stalemate vs Deadlock (和局 vs 僵局)
对弈发生stalemate(和局)时,棋局便会结束。因此,若要使用stalemate来比喻某件事,只能用来描述会使某事结束的情况,例如:「It ended in a stalemate」(这件事以和局收场)。这个字跟impasse(死路)、bottleneck(瓶颈)或deadlock(僵局)不同,因为这些字都是指暂时且可解决的阻碍,并非永久结束的状态。
范例:
The discussion of the proposal ended in a stalemate and the participants went home without a resolution. (The discussion of the proposal was stopped forever.)
The discussion of the proposal reached a deadlock before a compromise was found. (The discussion of the proposal stalled and then got started again and agreement was finally reached.)
Travesty vs Tragedy (扭曲 vs 悲剧)
Travesty容易和tragedy搞混,因此常被误用来形容不好的事物。原先travesty意指装扮或伪装某人,使之成为受嘲笑的对象或者用以嘲讽他人。因此,travesty延伸的意思是以古怪荒诞的方式扭曲某事物。例如,「travesty of justice」就是指真实的正义受到扭曲而变得荒谬颠倒,并非只是不好的结果。
范例:
The judge’s decision is a travesty. (Ridiculous and terrible)
The car accident was a tragedy. (Terrible and causing grief)
Invariably vs Often (不变地 vs 时常)
Invariably形容某事「总是」发生,而非只是「经常」发生。因此,形容某人「invariably good at their job」,意思就是他们在工作的每一刻都表现良好。
范例:
The sun invariably rises each morning. (Without exceptions)
He often takes a walk before breakfast. (Usually, but not always)
Collude vs Collaborate (共谋 vs 合作)
Collude只能用在整体上具负面含意的情况,它的意思是plot(密谋)或conspire(同谋),而非只是collaborate(合作)。
范例:
The government officials colluded with the company president to reduce the company’s taxes. (They plotted – negative and often illegal)
The scholars collaborated on their research. (They shared ideas – usually positive)
Ultimately vs Consequently (最终 vs 因此)
Ultimately和consequently并非同义字。重点要记住,ultimate是形容顺序上的最后一项。因此,如果某事「ultimately happens」,意思就是这件事在过了很长一段时间或时机成熟时发生了。若某事「consequently happens」,它是指涉因另一件事所造成的结果。
范例:
Ultimately , his proposal was accepted. (In the end)
He was fired from his job. Consequently, he posted his resume online. (As a result)
Peruse vs Glance (细读 vs 扫视)
Peruse真正的意思是仔细阅读,与study(研读)和pore(熟读)同义,而非指skim(浏览)或glance over(略读)。举例来说,「peruse the magazines when you’re in a doctor’s waiting room」(某人在候诊室阅读杂志),这种情境句我们会建议使用glance over或skim来取代peruse。
范例:
He perused the research article carefully.
He glanced at the clock.
Disinterested vs Uninterested (公正无私 vs 漠不关心)
若用disinterested来形容某人,表示他对于某事并没有利害关系且没有涉及某事,因此可以保持完全客观公正的态度。如果用uninterested来形容某人,那么他只是对那件事不怎么感兴趣,而表现出漠不关心的样子。
范例:
The judge was unbiased and disinterested in the outcome of the case.
The students were uninterested in finishing their homework.
Enormity vs Enormous (穷凶恶极 vs 巨大的)
Enormity容易与enormous(巨大的)混淆,因此常常被当作sizableness(庞大)或immensity(广大)的同义字,但是这个用法并不正确。 Enormity指坏事的可怕,只能用在负面的情况。因此,我们可以说「the enormity of a person’s crime」(某人罪大恶极),但不可以说「the enormity of the crowd at a music festival」(音乐节的人潮众多)。
范例:
He realized enormity of the situation. (He realized how terrible the situation was)
He farmer grew an enormous pumpkin. (It was very big)
Effectively vs Basically (有效 vs 基本上)
Effectively意思是「to good effect」(达到良效),而不是「in effect」(实际上),因此使用上不应与basically(基本上)同义。所以,当有人说「Jaws 2 effectively repeated the first film」,他的意思是〈大白鲨2〉制作成功、效果良好,暗示这是一部好电影。
范例:
He effectively managed his department. (He managed well)
Basically , I agree with you. (I agree with the majority of what you say except for a few details)
Venerable vs Old ( 令人敬佩的 vs 年老的)
Venerable不只是用来形容old(年老、老旧的)或ancient(古老的),而是指值得尊敬或尊重的。
范例:
The venerable old building stood at the end of the street. (Old, respected and with a rich history)
The old man crossed the street. (He’s just old)
Fortuitous vs Fortunate (偶然的 vs 幸运的)
Fortuitous和fortunate并不是同义字,前者是指「偶然的发生」,而后者是指「幸运的发生」。所以,「bumping into someone fortuitously」(偶然地遇到某人)可能是好事,也可能是坏事;但是「bumping into them fortunately」(幸运地遇到某人)指的一定是好事。
范例:
A fortuitous event brought them together. (By chance)
Fortunately , they brou
咨询电话
1-888-599-(5888)