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alternate method

English translation: alternative method

00:06 May 17, 2005
English language (monolingual) [Non-PRO]
Tech/Engineering - Idioms / Maxims / Sayings / Notes on blue print drawings
English term or phrase: alternate method
Which is correct "alternate method of construction" or "alternative method of construction" a friend of mine say's it's alternitive, but sounds odd to me?
James Ney
Selected answer:alternative method
Explanation:
is correct.

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Note added at 6 mins (2005-05-17 00:13:18 GMT)
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alternate stands for interchange, oscillate, rotate, take turns
whereas alternative is a choice, an option, other of two, preference
(Harper Collins Thesaurus)
Selected response from:

swisstell
Italy
Local time: 01:45
Grading comment
Graded automatically based on peer agreement.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
4 +11alternative method
swisstell
5 +3alternative method
Maria Luisa Duarte
4difference between alternate and alternative
Balasubramaniam L.


  

Answers


5 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +3
alternative method


Explanation:
alternative construction method

Maria Luisa Duarte
Spain
Local time: 01:45
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in PortuguesePortuguese

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  jacn77 (X): Thank's for your help, I guess I was mistaken
15 mins
  -> Thanks! MLD
agree  MPGS: :) ... :)
8 hrs
  -> Thank you! MLD
agree  Kim Metzger: Although alternate would also work.
15 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

4 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +11
alternative method


Explanation:
is correct.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 6 mins (2005-05-17 00:13:18 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

alternate stands for interchange, oscillate, rotate, take turns
whereas alternative is a choice, an option, other of two, preference
(Harper Collins Thesaurus)

swisstell
Italy
Local time: 01:45
Native speaker of: German
Grading comment
Graded automatically based on peer agreement.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Maria Luisa Duarte
1 min
  -> muchas gracias
agree  RHELLER: sounds better
3 mins
  -> merci Rita
agree  Elena Petelos
6 mins
  -> thanks, Elena
agree  rangepost
10 mins
  -> thank you
agree  Coral Getino
10 mins
  -> thank you
neutral  Refugio: Alternate, used as adjective not a verb, is also acceptable. // If you have any doubts, do a search for "alternate method of construction".
48 mins
  -> whatever you say / I have no doubt. I know that often there are alternatives, hence my giving myself not more than a 4. However, I have sufficient unqualified support here not to look for needles in the haystack.
agree  jennifer newsome (X)
1 hr
  -> thanks, trickily
agree  juvera: Alternative is infinitely more preferable
7 hrs
  -> thanks, juvera
agree  MPGS: :) ... :)
8 hrs
  -> thank you
agree  Ian M-H (X)
8 hrs
  -> thank you
neutral  Ken Cox: As noted in the Oxford dictionary, 'alternate' is used in NA as an adjective in place of 'alternative'. 'Alternative' is certainly preferable, but in the US 'alternate method' is fairly common usage.
11 hrs
  -> alternatively has the predominant nod - and giving it a "neutral" is close to being unfair not only to me but to a dozen peers
neutral  Kim Metzger: Peer comments are intended to help the asker with his question. As others have pointed out, alternate is also acceptable.
16 hrs
  -> your attitude is too transparent. For the SAME answer you give an agree to the lady, but not to me. Even she was lady enough to realize that my answer was 1 minute earlier and she gave me the nod. - You also ignore that ALTERNATIVE is more commonlhy used
agree  Balasubramaniam L.: alternative is correct, there is no question about it.
2 days 6 hrs
  -> thanks for your support
agree  Alfa Trans (X)
2 days 14 hrs
  -> thanks a lot
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

2 days 6 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
difference between alternate and alternative


Explanation:
"Alternatively" is the correct term to be used here if a choice is intended.

Use of "alternately" in place of "alternatively" is one of the more common errors of English usage.

Here's what Fowler (Modern English Usage), has to say on this:

[quote]
alternate(ly), alternative(ly)

alternative (offering a choice) had formerly also the sense now belonging only to alternate (by turns); now that the differentiation is complete, confusion between the two is even less excusable than between DEFINITE and DEFINITIVE.

Examples of wrong use of one for the other are:

The journey may be made by road or alternately by rail.

Alternatively they sat and walked in the moonlight talking of this and that.

[unquote]

Balasubramaniam L.
India
Local time: 05:15
Native speaker of: Native in HindiHindi
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