naught/nought

nought 用于表示数目字“0”(零)(见 zero)。例如：

1. How many noughts are there at the end of this number? 这个数目字的末尾有几个零?

2. Put two noughts after a six to make six hundred. 在 6 之后添两个“0”，就是 600。

naught 则用于表示“无”(nothing)，例如：

1. All his work came to naught when the fire destroyed the house he was building. 大火烧毁了他正在盖的房子，他的全部工作都化为乌有。

2. We should always be modest and prudent instead of setting at naught too easily the opinions and criticisms from others. 我们应当永远谦虚，谨慎，决不能轻视别人的批评、意见。

3. All our plans came to naught. 我们所有的计划都成了泡影。

但是,实际上,人们经常混用这两个词:

1. All my work came to nought. (Thorndike) 我所有的工作都一无所获。

2. It's a great pity that all our plans have come to nought. (A) knot (B) no one (C) nothing (D) sadness(TOEFL) 我们所有的计划都落空了,真是太遗憾了。