Commonly Confused Words: Alternate/Alternative

Do you offer an alternate point, or an alternative point?

Uses of Alternate:

• Alternate (verb): When used as a verb, alternate means “to take turns”: “The two new associates alternate doing doc review.”
• Alternate (adjective): When used as an adjective, alternate means “every other”: “He attends Barry’s Bootcamp on alternate days.”
• Alternate (noun): When used as a noun, an alternate is a substitute: “Because of potential jury tampering, the judge swore in the alternate.”

Uses of Alternative:

• Alternative (noun): When used as a noun, an alternative means “one of two or more available possibilities”: “The alternative is to sue in federal court immediately.”
• Alternative (adjective): When used as an adjective, alternative means “available as another possibility”: “He considered alternative career paths after noticing the toll the long hours had taken on him.”

Rules:

(1) If you need a noun, use alternate if you mean SUBSTITUTE, otherwise use alternative.

(2) If you need a verb, use alternate.

(3) If you need an adjective, use alternative when discussing other POSSIBILITIES, otherwise use alternate.

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