Being choosy about choices

December 30th, 2008 at 07:00am Barry Wood

The word “alternate” comes from theĀ Latin notions of “to do by turns” and “one after the other.”

To be precise in English, “alternate” should preserve this idea of taking turns, like “alternating current.” As a verb, for example: “Good times alternate with bad.” As an adjective: “The American flag features alternate stripes of red and white,” or “The board meets on alternate Mondays.”

As a noun, an “alternate” is a substitute.

When the idea you want to convey is a choice, use “alternative”: “alternative route,” “alternative school,” “alternative lifestyle,” “you give me no alternative.”

So, can there be more than two alternatives? According to “Right, Wrong, and Risky” by Mark Davidson, purists say no, insisting that an alternative must be one of “two mutually exclusive possibilities.” To avoid criticism from such folks, you should use “choices,” “options” or “possibilities” when there are more than two.

The looser usage is gaining support, however, so you’ll have plenty of defenders if you go with multiple alternatives. Just don’t use “alternates.”

Entry Filed under: definitions, perplexing pairs, strict usage