密歇根新闻广播 如何改变你的口音

Despite the diligent¹ tutelage of our Speak and Spells, there are plenty of spellings that continue to allude² us.

However, while we sometimes complain about the vagaries³ of English spelling, would we actually change the spelling of any of the words?

University of Michigan English professor Anne Curzan recently put the question to her students, who decided⁴ they would change up "supersede⁵."

Obviously, since it's already typed out here on the page, we can't really ask you how you think "supersede" is spelled.

Be honest though, when you saw, did it look strange to you?

It's likely at least a few of you really wanted to put a "c" in the middle instead of that second "s." We assure you, "supersede" is the correct spelling, according to most standard dictionaries.

However, the "c" spelling is listed in the Merriam-Webster and American Heritage dictionaries as a variant⁶ spelling. It's often accompanied with a usage note that says, "this variant spelling with ‘c' is common and commonly regarded as a mistake."

It's tempting⁷ to place the blame for wanting to spell "supersede" with a "c" on words like "proceed" and "exceed."

Etymologically⁸ though, those words go back to the Latin word "cedere" which means to yield or surrender. On the other hand, "supersede"goes back to "sedere" which means to sit.

When "supersede" came into English via French in the 17th century, it was spelled with both a "c" and an "s."

Yes, you read that right. The "c" spelling has been around for literally⁹ hundreds of years.

Perhaps it's time to stop calling it a non-standard variant and just let it be. What do you think?

1 diligent   

adj.勤勉的，勤奋的

参考例句：

• He is the more diligent of the two boys.他是这两个男孩中较用功的一个。
• She is diligent and keeps herself busy all the time.她真勤快，一会儿也不闲着。

2 allude   

v.提及，暗指

参考例句：

• Many passages in Scripture allude to this concept.圣经中有许多经文间接地提到这样的概念。
• She also alluded to her rival's past marital troubles.她还影射了对手过去的婚姻问题。

3 vagaries   

n.奇想( vagary的名词复数 )；异想天开；异常行为；难以预测的情况

参考例句：

• The vagaries of fortune are indeed curious.\" 命运的变化莫测真是不可思议。” 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• The vagaries of inclement weather conditions are avoided to a certain extent. 可以在一定程度上避免变化莫测的恶劣气候影响。 来自辞典例句

4 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

5 supersede   

v.替代；充任

参考例句：

• We must supersede old machines by new ones.我们必须以新机器取代旧机器。
• The use of robots will someday supersede manual labor.机器人的使用有一天会取代人力。

6 variant   

adj.不同的，变异的；n.变体，异体

参考例句：

• We give professional suggestions according to variant tanning stages for each customer.我们针对每位顾客不同的日晒阶段，提供强度适合的晒黑建议。
• In a variant of this approach,the tests are data- driven.这个方法的一个变种，是数据驱动的测试。

7 tempting   

a.诱人的, 吸引人的

参考例句：

• It is tempting to idealize the past. 人都爱把过去的日子说得那么美好。
• It was a tempting offer. 这是个诱人的提议。

8 etymologically   

adv.语源上

参考例句：

9 literally   

adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实

参考例句：

• He translated the passage literally.他逐字逐句地翻译这段文字。
• Sometimes she would not sit down till she was literally faint.有时候，她不走到真正要昏厥了，决不肯坐下来。