An attestation is a formal saying-so: you put on record that something is definitely true, or you hold a paper that does that job. A signature may need an attestation — a witness confirming yes, this person signed in front of me. Schools and offices ask for attestations of identity, grades, or work: stamped, dated, a bit stiff.

An attestation is a formal saying-soattestation是一種正式的具結聲明：you put on record that something is definitely true你把某件事的確為真正式記錄下來，or you hold a paper that does that job或是你手上有一張做這件事的文件。A signature may need an attestation簽名可能需要具結 — a witness confirming yes, this person signed in front of me由見證人證實：對，這個人是在我面前簽的。Schools and offices ask for attestations of identity, grades, or work學校和機關會要求身分、成績或工作的具結證明：stamped, dated, a bit stiff蓋章、註明日期，有點制式。

The act and the document share the same name. The word sits on the formal, legal side. Everyday English is more likely to say proof, statement, or someone saw it.

The act and the document share the same name這個動作和這份文件用的是同一個字。The word sits on the formal, legal side這個字偏正式、法律用語那一邊。Everyday English is more likely to say proof, statement, or someone saw it日常英語比較會說proof、statement，或說「有人親眼看見」。

Language teachers also use attestation for evidence that a word really appeared in a text (the first attestation of a slang word), which is the same idea — bearing witness — aimed at words instead of people. Though actually, attestation is not the same as notarisation: a notary is a special official; an attestation can be quieter, just a signed witness.

Language teachers also use attestation for evidence that a word really appeared in a text語言老師也會用attestation來指某個字確實出現在文本裡的證據（the first attestation of a slang word一個俚語第一次出現的紀錄），which is the same idea — bearing witness — aimed at words instead of people這是同一個概念——見證——只是對象是文字而不是人。Though actually不過事實上，attestation is not the same as notarisationattestation跟notarisation（公證）不一樣：a notary is a special official公證人是特殊官員身分；an attestation can be quieter, just a signed witness而attestation可以低調一點，只是有簽名的見證人。

It is also not attention, even though the opening letters look similar.

It is also not attention它也不是attention（注意力），even though the opening letters look similar雖然開頭幾個字母看起來很像。