Alternate vs Alternative
Alternate and Alternative came from the same Latin root word. Still, they have evolved to mean different things, even though they look very similar. Alternate refers to changing back and forth, while alternative refers to a choice between two or more things. What adds more confusion is that these words have several forms and meanings. Let’s look at the most common ways alternate and alternative are used.
Here are some definitions and examples to help make the use of these words clearer.
Alternate (verb, adjective)
(v) To change back and forth; to interchange
(adj) Taking the place of
Examples:
(v) Every week, I alternate between washing whites and washing colors.
(adj) I didn’t like how my story ended, so I created an alternate ending.
In the first sentence, the ending is pronounced like “ate.” Here it means to change back and forth. One week, I wash white clothes, and the next week, I wash colors. In the second sentence, the ending is pronounced like “net.” Here it means taking the place of something. I wrote another ending to take the place of the first one.
Alternative (noun, adjective)
(n) A choice between two or more possibilities
(adj) Describing a non-mainstream option
Examples:
(n) If you’re interested in the medical field but don’t want to be a doctor, a good alternative is to study nursing.
(adj) Acupuncture is considered alternative medicine.
In the first sentence, the alternative is a choice between being a doctor and being a nurse. In the second sentence, alternative describes an option that is not the mainstream. Acupuncture is not mainstream medicine, but it is a non-traditional option.
Main Points
- Alternate and Alternative might seem like the same word, just in different word forms, but they’re actually two separate words.
- Alternate can be a verb or an adjective. The pronunciation changes slightly depending on the word form.
- Alternative can be a noun or an adjective.