Alternate vs. Alternative

‘Alternate’ or ‘alternative’?

In both British and American English the adjective alternate means ‘every other or every second’, as in:

E.g. They meet on alternate Sundays.

Or ‘(of two things) each following and succeeded by the other in a regular pattern’, as in:

E.g. Alternate layers of potato and sauce.

Alternative means ‘available as another possibility or choice’ as in:

E.g. Some European countries follow an alternative approach.

In American usage, however, alternate can also be used to mean ‘available as another choice’, for example:

E.g. An alternate plan called for construction to begin

E.g. Immediately rather than waiting for spring.

E.g. This American use of alternate is still regarded as incorrect by many people in Britain.