Alternate and Alternative
The Quick Answer
What is the difference between alternate and alternative?An alternate is a replacement for the original. An alternative is another option to the original. For example:
- The car is broken. We need alternate transport.
- The car is quite expensive. I suggest alternative transport.
Alternate and Alternative
Writers are often confused by the words alternate and alternative. These words have similar meanings, but there is a difference. They cannot be used interchangeably.Alternate
The word alternate denotes a replacement (i.e., something that serves in the place of something else). In this meaning, it can be used as a noun or an adjective. For example:- Our usual captain is on leave. Simon is the alternate.
- The landslide has closed the road. You must take an alternate route.
- The lights alternate between red and white.
- We will take alternate shifts.
Alternative
The word alternative denotes another option (i.e., it does not replace the original). It can be used as a noun or an adjective. For example:- Our usual captain is demanding twice as much money than expected. Simon is the alternative.
- The landslide has closed one lane of the road. I would advise taking an alternative route.
See Also
adverse or averse? affect or effect? appraise or apprise? avenge or revenge? bare or bear? complement or compliment? dependant or dependent? discreet or discrete? disinterested or uninterested? e.g. or i.e.? envy or jealousy? imply or infer? its or it's? material or materiel? poisonous or venomous? practice or practise? principal or principle? tenant or tenet? who's or whose?What are nouns? What are adjectives? What are verbs? List of easily confused words