Talk:Alternate route
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"It should be pointed out that "Alternate Route" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrase is "Alternative Route", as "Alternate" means that you would use the road every second time you were there, as opposed to an Alternative route which is another option than can be taken up, if for instance traffic was heavy on the main route." This is vandalism from someone not familiar with American English. From www.m-w.com (Merriam-Webster, one of the primary American English dictionaries): Main Entry: al·ter·nate ... Function: adjective ... 4: constituting an alternative <took the alternate route home> 5: alternative
- Agreed; this is fine within an article specific to the USA, and where 'alternate' is included in official terminology. However, it's worth noting that in articles not specific to the USA, 'alternative' should always be the preferred option. English Wikipedia favours English words which allow for the broadest level of understanding; the meaning of 'alternative' is understood within all dialects of English, whereas the American synonymous use of 'alternate' is not. In this article pertaining to the USA, however, it's perfectly appropriate. 148.64.26.124 (talk) 11:28, 22 November 2019 (UTC)