単語を使うとき好んでする間違い（その3）

Popular mistakes in word usage (part 3)

　先輩技師：‘subjected’は，"The sample was subjected to high-pressure liquid chromatography."というような文章でよく使われていますが，これは，辞書に出ている意味と違うような気がします．

　英文編集者：そうです．何年か前に，突然このような意味で‘subject’を使うことがはやりだしました．私にはなぜだか想像もできません．‘subject’を使う場合の問題は，‘Subject’には，その方法を行うと苦痛が生じるというニュアンスが強いということです．もし，その方法が例えば手術や拘束のような痛みや不快感を与えるなら，．‘subjected’を使いなさい．もし，それを懸濁液，溶液、試験管の中の細胞に対して行うなら，そういう試料が痛みを感じているとあなたが思うのでない限り，‘subjected’を使ってはいけません！

Senior technologist : I've noticed that the word 'subjected' is often used in sentences like "The sample was subjected to high-pressure liquid chromatography." This use of the word does not seem to match the meaning of the word "to subject" given in my dictionaries.

English editor : You're right. A few years ago, this word suddenly became popular in this sense. I can't imagine why. The problem with using this word is that it strongly suggests that the procedure① causes pain. If the procedure does cause pain or discomfort, such as an operation or restraint, use the word. If the procedure is done to a solution, suspension, or to cells in vitro, don't use it, unless you think that such samples can feel pain !