Do you offer an alternate point, or an alternative point?
Uses of Alternate:
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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.
Although you could end your learning here, the alternative (doing some practice problems) is a better option.
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