Misunderstood words that trip up writers
Source : PRDaily By Laura Hale Brockway | Posted: March 27, 2013
Do you remember being an adolescent and feeling like no one understood you?
你還記得在青少年時期，沒有人理解你的感覺嗎？
Well, this column is about words with definitions that are continually misunderstood, misinterpreted, and misconstrued. They are the middle schoolers of our lexicon.
那麼，這篇專欄是關於那些持續不斷地被誤解，被曲解，和誤會定義的字彙。他們是我們詞彙的中學齡生。
Arbitration, mediation
仲裁，調解
Arbitration means a third party listens to evidence from all parties and hands down a decision. Example: “The contract called for arbitration by a federal judge.”
仲裁意味著第三方聽取各方的證據以便於做決定。例如：“該合同由一名聯邦法官要求仲裁。
Mediation means a third party listens to the evidence from all parties and brings them to an agreement. Example: “The plaintiff agreed to try mediation one last time.”
”調解是指第三方聽取來自各方的證據，以便為他們進行協議。例如：“原告同意最後一次嘗試調解。”
Carat, caret, karat
克拉，脫字插入符號，克拉
Carat is a unit of weight for precious stones, equal to 200 milligrams. Example: “Can you measure rhinestones in carats?”
克拉，是一個寶石的重量單位，等於200毫克。例如：“你能用克拉測出萊茵石（人造鑽石）的重量嗎？”
A caret is a V-shape proofreader’s symbol indicating something is to be inserted. Example: “Carets should be placed within the text, not in the margin.”
caret是一個插入符號狀似V字形，在校對時會用來插入字的符號。實施例：“插入記號應放置內的文本，而不是在欄外。”
Karat is the proportion of gold used with an alloy. Example: “Pure gold is 24 karat.”
卡拉特是使用金與合金的比例。示例：“純金是24K的。”
Capital, Capitol
首都， 美國國會大廈
Capital is the city where the seat of government is located; also money, equipment, or property. Examples: “Austin is the capital of Texas,” or, “To start our own communications firm, we need to raise capital.”
首都是指政府所在地的城市，也代表資金，設備或財產的意思。
例如：“奧斯汀是德克薩斯州的首都，”或“，為開始我們自己的通信公司，我們需要籌集資金。”
Capitol refers to the building in which a legislative body meets. Example: “The Texas Capitol is in Austin.”
國會指的是立法機構開會的建築物內。例如：“德克薩斯州議會大廈是在奧斯汀
Disc, disk
光盤，磁盤
Use disc for terms related to recordings, such as Blu-ray Disc or disc jockey. Also, disc brakes. Example: “The disc had a scratch on it.”
使用光盤事有關於錄音，如藍光光盤或唱片音樂節目主持人相關。另外，- 碟式煞車,(盤式制動器)。例：“光盤上有划痕。”
Use disk for computer-related and medical references, such as hard disk and slipped disk. Example: “My laptop needs a new hard disk.”
磁盤使用和計算機與醫學文獻相關，如硬碟和椎間盤突出。例如：“我的筆記型電腦需要一個新的硬碟。”
Emigrate, immigrate
移民， 遷移
To leave the country is to emigrate, also to be an emigrant. Example: “My mother’s family emigrated from Germany after the war.”
離開這個國家是移居外國，也是移民。例：“我母親的家庭自戰爭結束後從德國移民。”
To enter a country is to immigrate, also to be an immigrant. Example: “Laurel immigrated to the United Kingdom.”
要進入一個國家就是移民，也就是一個移民的。例：“桂冠移民到英國。”
Faze, phase
煩擾, 階段,
To faze means to embarrass or disturb. Example: “The typo in the headline did not seem to faze her.”
煩擾指的是妨礙或干擾。例如：“在標題中的錯字似乎不會干擾她。”
Phase means a stage of development or an aspect or part. Example: “There are three editing phases: macro-editing, micro-editing, and proofreading.”
階段指的是一個階段的發展或某一方面或部分。例：“有三個編輯階段，宏觀編輯，微觀編輯，校對。
Flier, flyer
飛行者， 飛行物
According to the AP Stylebook, flier is the preferred term for a handbill or leaflet. Example: “We need to create a flier explaining our new bundled pricing.”
根據AP範本：傳單，傳單是傳單或小冊子首選的術語。例如：“我們需要製作傳單，說明我們的新的大批定價。”
Flyer is the proper name of some trains or buses. Example: “We rode the San Antonio Flyer.”
飛行物則是指火車或巴士的正式名稱。例如：“我們乘坐聖安東尼奧的行車。”
Forbear, forebear
隱忍， 祖先
To forbear means to resist, avoid, or shun. Example: “I will forbear and stop editing your document.”
克制意味著抵抗，避免或迴避。例如：“我會忍耐停止編輯您的文檔。”
Forebear is an ancestor. Example: “I am not sure where my forebears came from.”
祖先是先列祖先。例如：“我不知道我的祖先來自哪裡。”
Lectern, podium
講台，講台
A lectern is a stand that serves as a support for the notes or books of a speaker. Example: “I feel more comfortable standing at the lectern when I speak.”
講台是一個獨立的，可作讓演講者置放支持的筆記或書籍。例：“上台發言時 我覺得站立在講台上更舒適地。
A podium is an elevated platform to stand on when speaking. Example: “A speaker stands behind a lectern but on a podium.”
墩座”是 發言時登上站在一個高架平台。例如：“一位發言者站在講台後方，但站在講座台上。”
Mantel, mantle
壁爐架，披風
A mantel is a shelf. Example: “Amy kept her writing award on the mantelpiece.”
壁爐是一種架子。例：“艾米把她的寫作獎放在壁爐台上。”
A mantle is a cloak or something that conceals. Example: “A mantle of dust hung over the furniture.”
披風是一種斗篷或隱藏的東西。例如：“地幔的灰塵覆蓋在家具上。”
Premier, premiere
總理， 首映
Premier means first in importance; principal or chief. Example: “Our company offers premier writing and editing services.”
總理意味著首先的重要性，校長或長官。例如：“我們公司提供優質的寫作和編輯服務。
Premiere means a first performance. Example: “We attended the premiere of ‘Spamalot.’” ”
首映指的是首先演出。例如：“我們參加了”火腿騎士“的首映禮。”
Rack, wrack
機架，毀壞
The verb form of rack means to arrange on a rack, to torture, or torment. Example: “I racked my brain, but still could not think of a headline.”
機架的動詞是在架子上重整，施以酷刑，或折磨 例：“我折磨我的大腦，但還是沒能想到一個標題。”
The noun form of wrack means ruins or destruction. Example: “Under his leadership, the company will come to wrack and ruin.”
毀壞的名詞形式意思為毀壞，廢墟或破壞。例如：“在他的領導下，該公司將毀壞和破滅。”
Reluctant, reticent
不情願的，沉默 不情願的
Reluctant means unwilling to act. Example: “I was reluctant to correct the CEO’s grammar.”
Reluctant表示不願意採取行動。例：“我當時不願糾正CEO的語法。”
Reticent means unwilling to speak; reserved, restrained. Example: “I am often reticent around people I don’t know very well.”
例：“我在我不認識的人群裡往往沉默寡言。”
Care to share any other misunderstood words?
在乎分享任何其他人令人誤解的話？
Laura Hale Brockway is a medical writer and editor from Austin, Texas. She is also the author of the writing/editing/random thoughts blog, impertinentremarks.com.
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