On 2016\01\24 11:36, tim..... wrote:

"Offramp" wrote in message
...
On Saturday, 23 January 2016 14:09:49 UTC, Basil Jet wrote:

Although "alternate" is used in America as an, er, alternative to
alternative, here in Britain "alternate route" implies that you should
use one route the first, third and fifth times and use the other the
second, fourth and sixth times.

Yes, very well spotted. You are right.

I got it

but only because I couldn't see anything else wrong and I thought it a
bit picky

Same here. I wouldn't see anything wrong if I saw the sign in real life.
Internet use makes it impossible to keep British English and American
English distinct in my head.

On 2016-01-24 11:36:02 +0000, tim..... said:

"Offramp" wrote in message
...
On Saturday, 23 January 2016 14:09:49 UTC, Basil Jet wrote:

Although "alternate" is used in America as an, er, alternative to
alternative, here in Britain "alternate route" implies that you should
use one route the first, third and fifth times and use the other the
second, fourth and sixth times.

Yes, very well spotted. You are right.

I got it

but only because I couldn't see anything else wrong and I thought it a
bit picky

The debasement of our language by Americans a 'bit picky'?

You'll be 'reaching out' soon.

E.

On 2016\01\24 12:33, eastender wrote:
On 2016-01-24 11:36:02 +0000, tim..... said:

"Offramp" wrote in message
...
On Saturday, 23 January 2016 14:09:49 UTC, Basil Jet wrote:

Although "alternate" is used in America as an, er, alternative to
alternative, here in Britain "alternate route" implies that you should
use one route the first, third and fifth times and use the other the
second, fourth and sixth times.

Yes, very well spotted. You are right.

I got it

but only because I couldn't see anything else wrong and I thought it a
bit picky

The debasement of our language by Americans a 'bit picky'?

You'll be 'reaching out' soon.

Talk to the hand!

On Sun, 24 Jan 2016 12:33:55 +0000, eastender
wrote:

On 2016-01-24 11:36:02 +0000, tim..... said:

"Offramp" wrote in message
...
On Saturday, 23 January 2016 14:09:49 UTC, Basil Jet wrote:

Although "alternate" is used in America as an, er, alternative to
alternative, here in Britain "alternate route" implies that you should
use one route the first, third and fifth times and use the other the
second, fourth and sixth times.

Yes, very well spotted. You are right.

I got it

but only because I couldn't see anything else wrong and I thought it a
bit picky

The debasement of our language by Americans a 'bit picky'?

Of course English has never been debased in the East End. :-)


You'll be 'reaching out' soon.

E.

In article , (Basil Jet)
wrote:

Internet use makes it impossible to keep British English and
American English distinct in my head.

That problem has been around since the rise of Hollywood.

--
Colin Rosenstiel

On 2016-01-24 12:56:27 +0000, e27002 aurora said:

On Sun, 24 Jan 2016 12:33:55 +0000, eastender
wrote:

On 2016-01-24 11:36:02 +0000, tim..... said:

"Offramp" wrote in message
...
On Saturday, 23 January 2016 14:09:49 UTC, Basil Jet wrote:

Although "alternate" is used in America as an, er, alternative to
alternative, here in Britain "alternate route" implies that you should
use one route the first, third and fifth times and use the other the
second, fourth and sixth times.

Yes, very well spotted. You are right.

I got it

but only because I couldn't see anything else wrong and I thought it a
bit picky

The debasement of our language by Americans a 'bit picky'?

Of course English has never been debased in the East End. :-)

A is for horses.

E.

On 2016-01-24 13:09:49 +0000, said:

On Sun, 24 Jan 2016 12:33:55 +0000, eastender
wrote:



but only because I couldn't see anything else wrong and I thought it a
bit picky

The debasement of our language by Americans a 'bit picky'?



Do you get concerned that the passenger vehicles on the Underground
are called Cars rather than Carriages?

We've had railway cars since the 19th century (dining cars, Pullman etc.)

The use of alternate instead of alternative on a public sign is not
current British English and hopefully won't be.

E.

In message , at 11:45:50 on Sun, 24 Jan
2016, Basil Jet remarked:

Internet use makes it impossible to keep British English and American
English distinct in my head.

Here's one I heard the other day in a transport context:

Q: Do you mind if I drive your car
A: Yes (and an implied 'so go ahead')

Whereas in British English it would probably mean "yes I do mind, please
don't even think about sitting in the driving seat".
--
Roland Perry

One that REALLY annoys me is customers in shops saying, "Can I get...[etc]?"

On Sun, 24 Jan 2016 08:06:28 -0800 (PST), Offramp
wrote:

One that REALLY annoys me is customers in shops saying, "Can I get...[etc]?"

Almost as bad as "Have got" when "Have" is sufficient.