In British English alternate and alternative have different meanings. Alternate = (1) happening in turn, first one then other: ‘alternate periods of sun and rain.’ (2) every second (day, week, etc): ‘Our local football team plays at home on alternate Sundays.’ Alternative = that may be used instead of the usual one or the one you had planned to use: ‘In view of the roadworks, motorists are advised to use an alternative route.’ In American English alternate is used with the same meaning as alternative.
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