Question

Hi! Could you tell me the difference between glitch, mistake and fault? When should I use them? Thanks for your help!

Yang Li

谢谢 David。他提出的三个词分别是 glitch、mistake and fault. 这三个词乍看像是近义词，其实不然。因为它们各自有不同含义。我们将通过例句看看这三个词经常出现在什么样的语境中，从而体会它们的核心意思和习惯用法。

我们先来看第一个词glitch。这是个名词。基本意思是“小故障、小毛病”。在当今的电子时代这个词经常用来指电脑或硬件设备上出现的小毛病或技术上的小故障。请看例句。

Examples

I had expected a few glitches with the new system, but to my surprise, everything went smoothly.

我事先就做好思想准备可能会遇到一些新系统的小故障，不过令我吃惊的是，一切进展顺利。

It has been a great week！We haven't had any system glitches at all.

这一周很不错，我们没有遇到任何系统故障问题。

Yang Li

接下来我们转看第二个词mistake，名词。这个词大家都熟悉。俗话说人没有不犯错误的：We all make mistakes, we are only human. 比如，我们在判断上和看法上的错误或工作上的失误都可以用mistake 这个词。请听例句：

Examples

It was a mistake buying that house.

买那套房子是个错误。

Don't feel bad, everyone makes mistakes.

别难过，每个人都会犯错误的。

There seems to have been a mistake - my name isn't on the list.

好像搞错了 - 因为名单上没有我的名字。

I'm sorry I took your phone by mistake. Here it is.

对不起我错拿了你的手机。还给你吧。

Yang Li

最后我们来看 fault，这也是个名词。主要意思是“失误，疏忽”，这个词强调了对失误和错误所负的责任。请听例句：

Examples

It's my fault that we are late because I got the time wrong.

我们迟到了是我的责任，因为我把时间记错了。

It's not my fault that you failed the exam, you didn't put in the hours.

你考试没通过不能怨我。是你没有花时间复习。

I was at fault for not double-checking the sales figures.

都怪我没有再次核查销售数字。

He is always finding fault with the props I made, I think he is just jealous of my skills.

他总是对我做的舞台道具吹毛求疵，我觉得他就是妒忌我的手艺吧。