你的问题有很多种答法:
latter - former
following - preceding
later - earlier
等等...
每组词都是用于不同环境,举例说明:
Latter 中文对应是后者,例如:
Between roast duck and fried chicken,I prefer the latter (one).
烤鸭和炸鸡,我喜欢后者.
注意latter只能用于对比两件东西,
Between,grilled pork,roast duck and fried chicken,I prefer the latter.是错误的!
former 地用法在这里和 latter 是一样的,指两样事物中的前者.
preceding,following,指之前和之后的.注意,preceding 和 following 是指立即之前后的,例:
3 is following 2,1 is preceding 2.
2之后是3,2之前是1.
但:4 is following 2,2 is preceding 5 是错误的,因为他们不是紧挨着的.
相对于preceding-following,earlier-later指之前/之后但中间可一隔东西,例:
Comparing the earlier works of Mozart to his final one.
对比莫扎特的遗作和他之前的作品.
Mozart's later works are better.
莫扎特后期的作品更加出色.
你应该根据你自己的情况选择一组词来用.如果两段text是紧挨着的一前一后,preceding-following更好.如果两篇text很长而且中间隔着其他的,可以用earlier-later.如果只是针对2个短的段落,可以用latter-former.