later / latter 易混淆字
later 是「之後、較晚」，latter 是「後者」。
111 學測｜混合題
But 30 minutes later, the engine stopped and the boat began to sink.
但 30 分鐘後，引擎停了，船開始下沉。（30 分鐘後）
115 學測｜綜合測驗
Centuries later, the ability of tea to aid in digestion finally became known.
幾個世紀後，茶有助消化的功效終於廣為人知。（幾個世紀後）
- aid：「幫助」，aid in digestion：「幫助消化」
- digestion：digest（消化）的名詞
- become known：「變得為人所知」
115 學測｜閱讀測驗
In the latter half of the 20th century, steel frames became cost-effective, and thus affordable for a much wider staircase market.
20 世紀下半葉，鋼架變得划算，因此更多人買得起，樓梯市場也大為擴大。（後半）
- cost-effective：「划算的」
- affordable：「負擔得起的」，afford 是「負擔得起」+ -able
怎麼判斷
- later 是「較晚的、之後」，指時間比較晚。例：See you later.（待會見）
- the latter 是「後者」，指兩個東西裡面後面的那一個。例：Tom and Jack are brothers. The former is a doctor, and the latter is a teacher.（湯姆和傑克是兄弟。前者是醫生，後者是老師）
- latter 也可以指一段時間的後半，如 the latter half of the 20th century（20 世紀後半）。
- 拼法：later 是 late 加 r，latter 有兩個 t。
自我檢測
111 學測｜混合題
1. But 30 minutes ＿＿＿＿, the engine stopped and the boat began to sink.
115 學測｜閱讀測驗
2. In the ＿＿＿＿ half of the 20th century, steel frames became cost-effective, and thus affordable for a much wider staircase market.
115 學測｜綜合測驗
3. Centuries ＿＿＿＿, the ability of tea to aid in digestion finally became known.