On Thu, 3 Jul 2008 13:15:56 +0100, "John Briggs"
<john.briggs4@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> said:
> Einde O'Callaghan wrote:
> >
> > You should also note that the word "alternative"
> > isn't a direct synonym for "alternate"
>
> It would appear that it is in the USA - but that is
> beside the point, of course.
One British dictionary* says that "alternate" for
"alternative" is "chiefly N. Amer.", but another British
dictionary** says without mentioning regionality that
"alternate" is sometimes used to mean "alternative".
Anyway, what point is it beside if the region having far
more native English speakers than any other accepts that
definition?
It should be said, though, that while we may often hear on
radio traffic re****ts "alternate routes advised", the usage
should be avoided if we care about some pro****tion of
readers or listeners thinking we are in error.
It also needs to be said that we wouldn't use "alternate"
for "alternative" in all cases. For example, commonly heard
phrases are "alternative medicine" and "alternative
lifestyle". I wouldn't expect to hear an American
substitute "alternate" in those phrases.
* _New Shorter Oxford English Dictionary_
** _Chambers Dictionary_, 1993
--
Bob Cunningham | Everybody who wants to be in the
Southern California | picture, get on this side of the
USofA | table.
| -- J. Christ (apocryphal?)
|
