Which one is correct?


Alternate between three things



Alternate among three things

minimus wrote:
> Which one is correct?
>
>
> Alternate between three things
>
>
>
> Alternate among three things

Neither: alternate between two things.
-- 
John Briggs

22:53, lunedì 30 giugno 2008, John Briggs:
> minimus wrote:
>> Which one is correct?
>>
>> Alternate between three things
>>
>> Alternate among three things
> 
> Neither: alternate between two things.


Suppose you have a three phase electric power system: you can
alternate each one of the three phases to connect a mono-phase
load every day to a different one of them.


-- 
°¿°

ADPUF wrote:
> 22:53, lunedì 30 giugno 2008, John Briggs:
>> minimus wrote:
>>> Which one is correct?
>>>
>>> Alternate between three things
>>>
>>> Alternate among three things
>>
>> Neither: alternate between two things.
>
> Suppose you have a three phase electric power system: you can
> alternate each one of the three phases to connect a mono-phase
> load every day to a different one of them.

"Alternate" is only correctly used for two choices.
-- 
John Briggs

On Tue, 01 Jul 2008 00:14:05 +0200, ADPUF wrote:

> 22:53, lunedì 30 giugno 2008, John Briggs:
>> minimus wrote:
>>> Which one is correct?
>>>
>>> Alternate between three things
>>>
>>> Alternate among three things
>> 
>> Neither: alternate between two things.
> 
> 
> Suppose you have a three phase electric power system: you can
> alternate each one of the three phases to connect a mono-phase
> load every day to a different one of them.

I don't think so, unless you're from the other side of the pond.

-- 
the dot wanderer at tesco dot net

On Mon, 30 Jun 2008 22:40:58 +0200, "minimus"
 said:

> Which one is correct?
> Alternate between three things
> Alternate among three things

You have posted this query separately to three newsgroups
that I know of.  That's considered a no-no by some people.
It's said to be wasteful of Internet resources compared with
crossposting.

On the other hand, given that some spam filters reject
crosspostings to a number of groups greater than some
specified number, I suppose it's a way to sneak around that
potential obstacle.

On Tue, 01 Jul 2008 03:24:51 -0700, Woody Wordpecker
 wrote:

>On Mon, 30 Jun 2008 22:40:58 +0200, "minimus"
> said:
>
>> Which one is correct?
>> Alternate between three things
>> Alternate among three things
>
>You have posted this query separately to three newsgroups
>that I know of.  That's considered a no-no by some people.
>It's said to be wasteful of Internet resources compared with
>crossposting.
>
>On the other hand, given that some spam filters reject
>crosspostings to a number of groups greater than some
>specified number, I suppose it's a way to sneak around that
>potential obstacle. 

Internet resources are cheap, but our time isn't.
-- 

Regards,

Chuck Riggs
Near Dublin, Ireland

00:37, martedì 1 luglio 2008, John Briggs:
> ADPUF wrote:
>> 22:53, lunedì 30 giugno 2008, John Briggs:
>>> minimus wrote:
>>>> Which one is correct?
>>>>
>>>> Alternate between three things
>>>>
>>>> Alternate among three things
>>>
>>> Neither: alternate between two things.
>>
>> Suppose you have a three phase electric power system: you can
>> alternate each one of the three phases to connect a
>> mono-phase load every day to a different one of them.
> 
> "Alternate" is only correctly used for two choices.


Really?


-- 
°¿°

07:30, martedì 1 luglio 2008, The Wanderer:
> On Tue, 01 Jul 2008 00:14:05 +0200, ADPUF wrote:
>> 22:53, lunedì 30 giugno 2008, John Briggs:
>>> minimus wrote:
>>>> Which one is correct?
>>>>
>>>> Alternate between three things
>>>>
>>>> Alternate among three things
>>> 
>>> Neither: alternate between two things.
>> 
>> Suppose you have a three phase electric power system: you can
>> alternate each one of the three phases to connect a
>> mono-phase load every day to a different one of them.
> 
> I don't think so, unless you're from the other side of the
> pond.


As an Italian I live across the "little* pond.
:-)


-- 
°¿°

ADPUF wrote:
> 00:37, martedì 1 luglio 2008, John Briggs:
>> ADPUF wrote:
>>> 22:53, lunedì 30 giugno 2008, John Briggs:
>>>> minimus wrote:
>>>>> Which one is correct?
>>>>>
>>>>> Alternate between three things
>>>>>
>>>>> Alternate among three things
>>>> Neither: alternate between two things.
>>> Suppose you have a three phase electric power system: you can
>>> alternate each one of the three phases to connect a
>>> mono-phase load every day to a different one of them.
>> "Alternate" is only correctly used for two choices.
> 
> 
> Really?
> 
This is my reading of the dictionary definition form teh Merriam-Webster 
Dictionary:

1: occurring or succeeding by turns <a day of alternate sunshine and rain>
2 a: arranged first on one side and then on the other at different 
levels or points along an axial line <alternate leaves> — compare opposite
b: arranged one above or alongside the other
3: every other : every second <he works on alternate days>
4: constituting an alternative <took the alternate route home>
5: alternative

Regards, Einde O'Callaghan

On Tue, 01 Jul 2008 16:55:46 +0100, Chuck Riggs
 said:

> On Tue, 01 Jul 2008 03:24:51 -0700, Woody Wordpecker
>  wrote:
> 
> >On Mon, 30 Jun 2008 22:40:58 +0200, "minimus"
> > said:
> >
> >> Which one is correct?
> >> Alternate between three things
> >> Alternate among three things
> >
> >You have posted this query separately to three newsgroups
> >that I know of.  That's considered a no-no by some people.
> >It's said to be wasteful of Internet resources compared with
> >crossposting.
> >
> >On the other hand, given that some spam filters reject
> >crosspostings to a number of groups greater than some
> >specified number, I suppose it's a way to sneak around that
> >potential obstacle. 
> 
> Internet resources are cheap, but our time isn't.

Crossposting instead of separate posting would have saved at
least my time.  When a message is crossposted, my
newsreader, Agent, displays it in only one of the
newsgroups.  I found it in three because it was separately
posted in each.

I took the time to read the extra two to see if they were
different from the first one.  They weren't.

On 2 Jul, 02:57, Woody Wordpecker  wrote:
> On Tue, 01 Jul 2008 16:55:46 퍝, Chuck Riggs
>  said:
>
>
>
>
>
> > On Tue, 01 Jul 2008 03:24:51 -0700, Woody Wordpecker
> >  wrote:
>
> > >On Mon, 30 Jun 2008 22:40:58 퍭, "minimus"
> > > said:
>
> > >> Which one is correct?
> > >> Alternate between three things
> > >> Alternate among three things
>
> > >You have posted this query separately to three newsgroups
> > >that I know of.  That's considered a no-no by some people.
> > >It's said to be wasteful of Internet resources compared with
> > >crossposting.
>
> > >On the other hand, given that some spam filters reject
> > >crosspostings to a number of groups greater than some
> > >specified number, I suppose it's a way to sneak around that
> > >potential obstacle.
>
> > Internet resources are cheap, but our time isn't.
>
> Crossposting instead of separate posting would have saved at
> least my time.  When a message is crossposted, my
> newsreader, Agent, displays it in only one of the
> newsgroups.  I found it in three because it was separately
> posted in each.
>
> I took the time to read the extra two to see if they were
> different from the first one.  They weren't.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Well, this is the scenario if you are a regular at a few different
language news groups. What if one fails to get a satisfactory answer /
explanation from a single news group? Does successive postings to
different news groups then stand vindicated? Can successive postings
done out of necessity be treated differently from cross postings?

On 1 Jul, 10:30, The Wanderer  wrote:
> On Tue, 01 Jul 2008 00:14:05 퍭, ADPUF wrote:
> > 22:53, lunedì 30 giugno 2008, John Briggs:
> >> minimus wrote:
> >>> Which one is correct?
>
> >>> Alternate between three things
>
> >>> Alternate among three things
>
> >> Neither: alternate between two things.
>
> > Suppose you have a three phase electric power system: you can
> > alternate each one of the three phases to connect a mono-phase
> > load every day to a different one of them.
>
> I don't think so, unless you're from the other side of the pond.
>
> --
> the dot wanderer at tesco dot net

I tried to read a bit about the three-phased electrical power
distribution system, but never came across the usage, 'alternate
between three phases'. It is true you can tap power from any one of
the three phases to pair with the neutor for domstic power
consumption. Could you please report which, reasonably authentic
source,  has used this coinage? (The quote below is not important and
meant only for the technologically inclined, among us.)

Three-phase electric power is a common method of electric power
transmission.[1] It is a type of polyphase system mainly used to power
motors and many other devices. A three-phase system uses less
conductor material to transmit electric power than equivalent single-
phase, two-phase, or direct-current systems at the same voltage.

"In a three-phase system, three circuit conductors carry three
alternating currents (of the same frequency) which reach their
instantaneous peak values at different times. Taking one conductor as
the reference, the other two currents are delayed in time by one-third
and two-thirds of one cycle of the electrical current. This delay
between "phases" has the effect of giving constant power transfer over
each cycle of the current, and also makes it possible to produce a
rotating magnetic field in an electric motor."

At 11:03:30 on Wed, 2 Jul 2008, Paul  wrote in 
:

>Well, this is the scenario if you are a regular at a few different
>language news groups. What if one fails to get a satisfactory answer /
>explanation from a single news group? Does successive postings to
>different news groups then stand vindicated? Can successive postings
>done out of necessity be treated differently from cross postings?

Rather than create a new topic in such circumstances, it is better to 
add the second group to the existing discussion;  this enables the 
people there to know that a discussion has started (although it has not 
produced the answer the OP wants), and they can if they wish go and read 
that discussion.  Otherwise, you could get three separate topics, 
sequential rather than parallel, but each one giving the same answers, 
because they wouldn't know that the question had already been discussed 
elsewhere!

It is rare for any subject to be on-topic for more than three 
newsgroups, and cross-posting between three groups should not trip any 
official cross-post limits, nor any sensible[0] personal ones.

[0] Subjective value judgement based on the fact that, in any group 
which is under troll attack, I filter at the four-newsgroup level.
-- 
Molly Mockford
They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety
deserve neither liberty nor safety - Benjamin Franklin
(My Reply-To address *is* valid, though may not remain so for ever.)

22:54, martedì 1 luglio 2008, Einde O'Callaghan:
> ADPUF wrote:
>> 00:37, martedì 1 luglio 2008, John Briggs:
>>>
>>> "Alternate" is only correctly used for two choices.
>> 
>> Really?
>> 
> This is my reading of the dictionary definition form teh
> Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
> 
> 1: occurring or succeeding by turns <a day of alternate
> sunshine and rain 
> 2 a: arranged first on one side and then on the other at
> different levels or points along an axial line <alternate
> leaves> — compare opposite b: arranged one above or 
> alongside the other
> 3: every other : every second <he works on alternate days>
> 4: constituting an alternative <took the alternate route home>
> 5: alternative 


Surely (2a) implies "two": the sides formed by a symmetry plane.

However I still think that the concept of "alternative" can be
extended to more than two choices.

There are plants where leaves alternate on more than two
positions.


-- 
°¿°

20:27, mercoledì 2 luglio 2008, Paul:
> On 1 Jul, 10:30, The Wanderer  wrote:
>> On Tue, 01 Jul 2008 00:14:05 +0200, ADPUF wrote:
>> > 22:53, lunedì 30 giugno 2008, John Briggs:
>> >> minimus wrote:
>> >>> Which one is correct?
>>
>> >>> Alternate between three things
>>
>> >>> Alternate among three things
>>
>> >> Neither: alternate between two things.
>>
>> > Suppose you have a three phase electric power system: you
>> > can alternate each one of the three phases to connect a
>> > mono-phase load every day to a different one of them.
>>
>> I don't think so, unless you're from the other side of the
>> pond.
> 
> I tried to read a bit about the three-phased electrical power
> distribution system, but never came across the usage,
> 'alternate between three phases'. It is true you can tap power
> from any one of the three phases to pair with the neutor for
> domstic power consumption. Could you please report which,
> reasonably authentic source, has used this coinage?


No, I cannot quote anything.

I was only trying to make an example of alternation among more
than two chices.

Let me try again: if a pipe smoker has three pipes, that smoker
can alternate among them.


> (The quote below is not important and meant only for the
> technologically inclined, among us.)
> 
> Three-phase electric power is a common method of electric
> power transmission.[1] It is a type of polyphase system mainly
> used to power motors and many other devices. A three-phase
> system uses less conductor material to transmit electric power
> than equivalent single-phase, two-phase, or direct-current
> systems at the same voltage.
> 
> "In a three-phase system, three circuit conductors carry three
> alternating currents (of the same frequency) which reach their
> instantaneous peak values at different times. Taking one
> conductor as the reference, the other two currents are delayed
> in time by one-third and two-thirds of one cycle of the
> electrical current. This delay between "phases" has the effect
> of giving constant power transfer over each cycle of the
> current, and also makes it possible to produce a rotating
> magnetic field in an electric motor."


-- 
°¿°

ADPUF wrote:
> 22:54, martedì 1 luglio 2008, Einde O'Callaghan:
>> ADPUF wrote:
>>> 00:37, martedì 1 luglio 2008, John Briggs:
>>>> "Alternate" is only correctly used for two choices.
>>> Really?
>>>
>> This is my reading of the dictionary definition form teh
>> Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
>>
>> 1: occurring or succeeding by turns <a day of alternate
>> sunshine and rain 
>> 2 a: arranged first on one side and then on the other at
>> different levels or points along an axial line <alternate
>> leaves> — compare opposite b: arranged one above or 
>> alongside the other
>> 3: every other : every second <he works on alternate days>
>> 4: constituting an alternative <took the alternate route home>
>> 5: alternative 
> 
> 
> Surely (2a) implies "two": the sides formed by a symmetry plane.
> 
> However I still think that the concept of "alternative" can be
> extended to more than two choices.
> 
> There are plants where leaves alternate on more than two
> positions.
> 
Why can't you acceßpt the feel for the language possessed by a native 
speaker. I'm not the only native speaker of English who has told you 
that the word "alternate" implies a choice between two.

You should also note that the word "alternative" isn't a direct synonym 
for "alternate" and doesn't necessarily imply a choice between two.

Unless you can quote a reliable native-speaker source I'm afraid we'll 
have to conclude that your native language is interfering with your 
understanding of the English usage.

REgards, Einde O'Callaghan

On Wed, 2 Jul 2008 11:27:01 -0700 (PDT), Paul wrote:

> On 1 Jul, 10:30, The Wanderer  wrote:
>> On Tue, 01 Jul 2008 00:14:05 +0200, ADPUF wrote:
>>> 22:53, lunedì 30 giugno 2008, John Briggs:
>>>> minimus wrote:
>>>>> Which one is correct?
>>
>>>>> Alternate between three things
>>
>>>>> Alternate among three things
>>
>>>> Neither: alternate between two things.
>>
>>> Suppose you have a three phase electric power system: you can
>>> alternate each one of the three phases to connect a mono-phase
>>> load every day to a different one of them.
>>
>> I don't think so, unless you're from the other side of the pond.
>>
>> --
>> the dot wanderer at tesco dot net
> 
> I tried to read a bit about the three-phased electrical power
> distribution system, but never came across the usage, 'alternate
> between three phases'. 

No, and neither have I, and I was an Electrical Engineer by profession.


-- 
the dot wanderer at tesco dot net

On Thu, 03 Jul 2008 04:03:34 +0200, Einde O'Callaghan wrote:

> ADPUF wrote:

<snip>

>> However I still think that the concept of "alternative" can be
>> extended to more than two choices.
>> 
>> There are plants where leaves alternate on more than two
>> positions.
>> 
> Why can't you acceßpt the feel for the language possessed by a native 
> speaker. I'm not the only native speaker of English who has told you 
> that the word "alternate" implies a choice between two.
> 
> You should also note that the word "alternative" isn't a direct synonym 
> for "alternate" and doesn't necessarily imply a choice between two.
> 
> Unless you can quote a reliable native-speaker source I'm afraid we'll 
> have to conclude that your native language is interfering with your 
> understanding of the English usage.

Well said that man!


-- 
the dot wanderer at tesco dot net

Einde O'Callaghan wrote:
>
> You should also note that the word "alternative" isn't a direct
> synonym for "alternate"

It would appear that it is in the USA - but that is beside the point, of 
course.
-- 
John Briggs

John Briggs wrote:
> Einde O'Callaghan wrote:
>> You should also note that the word "alternative" isn't a direct
>> synonym for "alternate"
> 
> It would appear that it is in the USA - but that is beside the point, of 
> course.

The Merriam-Webster gives one sense in which they are synonyms. This 
meaning is also prevalent in the British Isles. However for most of its 
meanings "alternative" isn't a synonym or "alternate" (as an adjective, 
of course). This is what I was trying to convey - not very clearly, 
obviously. :-(

Regards, Einde O'Callaghan

On Thu, 3 Jul 2008 13:15:56 +0100, "John Briggs"
 said:

> Einde O'Callaghan wrote:
> >
> > You should also note that the word "alternative" 
> > isn't a direct synonym for "alternate"
> 
> It would appear that it is in the USA - but that is 
> beside the point, of course.

One British dictionary* says that "alternate" for
"alternative" is "chiefly N. Amer.", but another British
dictionary** says without mentioning regionality that
"alternate" is sometimes used to mean "alternative".

Anyway, what point is it beside if the region having far
more native English speakers than any other accepts that
definition?

It should be said, though, that while we may often hear on
radio traffic reports "alternate routes advised", the usage
should be avoided if we care about some proportion of
readers or listeners thinking we are in error.

It also needs to be said that we wouldn't use "alternate"
for "alternative" in all cases.  For example, commonly heard
phrases are "alternative medicine" and "alternative
lifestyle".  I wouldn't expect to hear an American
substitute "alternate" in those phrases.

* _New Shorter Oxford English Dictionary_

** _Chambers Dictionary_, 1993
-- 
Bob Cunningham      | Everybody who wants to be in the
Southern California | picture, get on this side of the
USofA               | table.
                    |        -- J. Christ (apocryphal?)

At 07:19:35 on Thu, 3 Jul 2008, Woody Wordpecker  
wrote in :

>It also needs to be said that we wouldn't use "alternate"
>for "alternative" in all cases.  For example, commonly heard
>phrases are "alternative medicine" and "alternative
>lifestyle".  I wouldn't expect to hear an American
>substitute "alternate" in those phrases.

And yet, when The Monkees were told that they could not call their 
latest record "Randy Scouse Git", it became "Alternate Title".
-- 
Molly Mockford
They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety
deserve neither liberty nor safety - Benjamin Franklin
(My Reply-To address *is* valid, though may not remain so for ever.)

On 3 Jul, 04:09, ADPUF  wrote:
> 20:27, mercoledì 2 luglio 2008, Paul:


"Let me try again: if a pipe smoker has three pipes, that smoker
can alternate among them. "

He can not, at least, for the time being. He will have to be satisfied
with 'choosing one of the three pipes' or 'one among the three'. ( If
he chooses all three at once and smokes, he's sure to choke!)

But then, language evolves and may be, just may be , if you get lucky,
they'll alternate between three things two hundred years from now.
Keep your fingers crossed!

20:34, giovedì 3 luglio 2008, Paul:
> On 3 Jul, 04:09, ADPUF  wrote:
>> 20:27, mercoledì 2 luglio 2008, Paul:
> 
> "Let me try again: if a pipe smoker has three pipes, that
> smoker can alternate among them. "
> 
> He can not, at least, for the time being. He will have to be
> satisfied with 'choosing one of the three pipes' or 'one among
> the three'.
> ( If he chooses all three at once and smokes, he's sure to
> choke!) 


:-)

What you mean is that every time the smoker chooses one of the
pipes among three, but how can you stress the meaning of "using
every time a different pipe in a given order"?

(BTW, you wrote "he" but I carefully avoided to write that the
smoker is a man ;-)

 
> But then, language evolves and may be, just may be , if you
> get lucky, they'll alternate between three things two hundred
> years from now. Keep your fingers crossed!


XX


-- 
°¿°

ADPUF wrote:
> 20:34, giovedì 3 luglio 2008, Paul:
>> On 3 Jul, 04:09, ADPUF  wrote:
>>> 20:27, mercoledì 2 luglio 2008, Paul:
>> "Let me try again: if a pipe smoker has three pipes, that
>> smoker can alternate among them. "
>>
>> He can not, at least, for the time being. He will have to be
>> satisfied with 'choosing one of the three pipes' or 'one among
>> the three'.
>> ( If he chooses all three at once and smokes, he's sure to
>> choke!) 
> 
> 
> :-)
> 
> What you mean is that every time the smoker chooses one of the
> pipes among three, but how can you stress the meaning of "using
> every time a different pipe in a given order"?
> 
... using (each of) them in turn

Regards, Einde O'Callaghan

> (BTW, you wrote "he" but I carefully avoided to write that the
> smoker is a man ;-)
> 
>  
>> But then, language evolves and may be, just may be , if you
>> get lucky, they'll alternate between three things two hundred
>> years from now. Keep your fingers crossed!
> 
> 
> XX
> 
>

On Thu, 3 Jul 2008 17:58:44 +0100, Molly Mockford
 said:

> At 07:19:35 on Thu, 3 Jul 2008, Woody Wordpecker  
> wrote in :
> 
> >It also needs to be said that we wouldn't use "alternate"
> >for "alternative" in all cases.  For example, commonly heard
> >phrases are "alternative medicine" and "alternative
> >lifestyle".  I wouldn't expect to hear an American
> >substitute "alternate" in those phrases.
> 
> And yet, when The Monkees were told that they could not call their 
> latest record "Randy Scouse Git", it became "Alternate Title".

Reminds me of a musical group we used to hear about years
ago.  I imagine a group sitting around trying to dream up a
name for their group.  Somebody says, "How about 'Something
Smith and the Redheads'?"  

Guess what the name of the group became.

Smatter a fact, I now see that that title gets 268 Google
hits.

On Thu, 3 Jul 2008 11:34:25 -0700 (PDT), Paul
 said:

> On 3 Jul, 04:09, ADPUF  wrote:
> > 20:27, mercoledì 2 luglio 2008, Paul:
> 
> 
> "Let me try again: if a pipe smoker has three pipes, that smoker
> can alternate among them. "
> 
> He can not, at least, for the time being. He will have to be satisfied
> with 'choosing one of the three pipes' or 'one among the three'. ( If
> he chooses all three at once and smokes, he's sure to choke!)
> 
> But then, language evolves and may be, just may be , if you get lucky,
> they'll alternate between three things two hundred years from now.
> Keep your fingers crossed!
> 
Meanwhile, see what your _New Shorter Oxford English
Dictionary_ says about the verb "alternate":

    2 v.i. Of two (occas. more than two) things: 
    succeed each other by turns. E18.  
-- 
Bob Cunningham      | Everybody who wants to be in the
Southern California | picture, get on this side of the
USofA               | table.
                    |        -- J. Christ (apocryphal?)

In article <486c0ac4$0$35959$4fafbaef@reader2.news.tin.it>,
ADPUF   wrote:
> 
> Let me try again: if a pipe smoker has three pipes, that smoker
> can alternate among them.

If I were he (not that I would ever smoke a pipe), I could rotate
around/among them, but not alternate among/between them.

Cheers
Tony
-- 
Tony Mountifield
Work: tony@softins.co.uk - http://www.softins.co.uk
Play: tony@mountifield.org - http://tony.mountifield.org

At 22:23:12 on Thu, 3 Jul 2008, Tony Mountifield 
 wrote in <g4jjgg$603$1@softins.clara.co.uk>:

>In article <486c0ac4$0$35959$4fafbaef@reader2.news.tin.it>,
>ADPUF   wrote:
>>
>> Let me try again: if a pipe smoker has three pipes, that smoker
>> can alternate among them.
>
>If I were he (not that I would ever smoke a pipe), I could rotate
>around/among them, but not alternate among/between them.

When there are only two items, "alternate" tells us that the sequence is 
A - B - A - B.  It is the only possible sequence.

When there are three items, use of "alternate" does not tell us the 
sequence.  It could be A - B - C - A - B - C, or it could be more 
random, e.g. A - B - A - C - B - C- A.  The former can be expressed by 
"rotate";  the latter by, perhaps "select".  But neither can be 
expressed by "alternate".
-- 
Molly Mockford
They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety
deserve neither liberty nor safety - Benjamin Franklin
(My Reply-To address *is* valid, though may not remain so for ever.)

In uk.culture.language.english on Thu, 3 Jul 2008 22:23:12 +0000 (UTC),
tony@softins.clara.co.uk (Tony Mountifield) wrote:

}In article <486c0ac4$0$35959$4fafbaef@reader2.news.tin.it>,
}ADPUF   wrote:
}> 
}> Let me try again: if a pipe smoker has three pipes, that smoker
}> can alternate among them.
}
}If I were he (not that I would ever smoke a pipe),

I am.

} I could rotate around/among them,

I do.

} but not alternate among/between them.

I can't and don't - I agree that "alternate" would not be an option.

I am born and bred, an english man, and I speak only as a native english
speaker. 

{R}

At 14:26:44 on Fri, 4 Jul 2008, {R}  wrote in 
:

>I am born and bred, an english man, and I speak only as a native english
>speaker.

"But in spite of all temptations
  To belong to other nations,
  He remains an Englishman -
  He remains an Englishman!"

However, Richard, I suspect that your vocabulary is not necessarily that 
of the man on the Clapham Omnibus... ;-}
-- 
Molly Mockford
They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety
deserve neither liberty nor safety - Benjamin Franklin
(My Reply-To address *is* valid, though may not remain so for ever.)

Molly Mockford wrote:
> At 14:26:44 on Fri, 4 Jul 2008, {R}  wrote in 
> :
> 
>> I am born and bred, an english man, and I speak only as a native english
>> speaker.
> 
> "But in spite of all temptations
>  To belong to other nations,
>  He remains an Englishman -
>  He remains an Englishman!"
> 
> However, Richard, I suspect that your vocabulary is not necessarily that 
> of the man on the Clapham Omnibus... ;-}

Are there any omnibuses in Clapham these days?

REgards, Einde O'Callaghan

Einde O'Callaghan wrote:
> Molly Mockford wrote:
>> At 14:26:44 on Fri, 4 Jul 2008, {R}  wrote in
>> :
>>
>>> I am born and bred, an english man, and I speak only as a native
>>> english speaker.
>>
>> "But in spite of all temptations
>>  To belong to other nations,
>>  He remains an Englishman -
>>  He remains an Englishman!"
>>
>> However, Richard, I suspect that your vocabulary is not necessarily
>> that of the man on the Clapham Omnibus... ;-}
>
> Are there any omnibuses in Clapham these days?

No 35, No 37, No 39, No 49, No 77, No 87, No 155, No 156, No 170, No 219, No 
295, No 319, No 337, No 344, No 345...
-- 
John Briggs

"John Briggs"  wrote in message 
news:dIxbk.184722$Ek2.69402@newsfe17.ams2...
> Einde O'Callaghan wrote:
>> Molly Mockford wrote:
>>> At 14:26:44 on Fri, 4 Jul 2008, {R}  wrote 
>>> in
>>> :
>>>
>>>> I am born and bred, an english man, and I speak only as a 
>>>> native
>>>> english speaker.
>>>
>>> "But in spite of all temptations
>>>  To belong to other nations,
>>>  He remains an Englishman -
>>>  He remains an Englishman!"
>>>
>>> However, Richard, I suspect that your vocabulary is not 
>>> necessarily
>>> that of the man on the Clapham Omnibus... ;-}
>>
>> Are there any omnibuses in Clapham these days?
>
> No 35, No 37, No 39, No 49, No 77, No 87, No 155, No 156, No 170, 
> No 219, No 295, No 319, No 337, No 344, No 345...

You're saying No omnibuses in Clapham?
-- 
Noel

At 08:01:58 on Sat, 5 Jul 2008, Ildhund  wrote in 
<g4n8ll$4bv$1@registered.motzarella.org>:

>"John Briggs"  wrote in message 
>news:dIxbk.184722$Ek2.69402@newsfe17.ams2...
>> Einde O'Callaghan wrote:

>>> Are there any omnibuses in Clapham these days?
>>
>> No 35, No 37, No 39, No 49, No 77, No 87, No 155, No 156, No 170,  No 
>>219, No 295, No 319, No 337, No 344, No 345...
>
>You're saying No omnibuses in Clapham?

No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, yes.
-- 
Molly Mockford
They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety
deserve neither liberty nor safety - Benjamin Franklin
(My Reply-To address *is* valid, though may not remain so for ever.)

Le 1/07/08 22:54, dans 6cvjspF3gd7U1@mid.individual.net, « Einde
O'Callaghan »  a écrit :

> ADPUF wrote:
>> 00:37, martedì 1 luglio 2008, John Briggs:
>>> ADPUF wrote:
>>>> 22:53, lunedì 30 giugno 2008, John Briggs:
>>>>> minimus wrote:
>>>>>> Which one is correct?
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Alternate between three things
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Alternate among three things
>>>>> Neither: alternate between two things.
>>>> Suppose you have a three phase electric power system: you can
>>>> alternate each one of the three phases to connect a
>>>> mono-phase load every day to a different one of them.
>>> "Alternate" is only correctly used for two choices.
>> 
>> 
>> Really?
>> 
> This is my reading of the dictionary definition form teh Merriam-Webster
> Dictionary:
> 
> 1: occurring or succeeding by turns <a day of alternate sunshine and rain>
> 2 a: arranged first on one side and then on the other at different
> levels or points along an axial line <alternate leaves> — compare opposite
> b: arranged one above or alongside the other
> 3: every other : every second <he works on alternate days>
> 4: constituting an alternative <took the alternate route home>
> 5: alternative
> 
> Regards, Einde O'Callaghan
  
ALTERNATE
verb |ˈôltərˌnāt| [ intrans. ] : occur in turn repeatedly : the governorship
alternated between the Republican and Democratic parties | bouts of
depression alternate with periods of elation | [as adj. ] ( alternating) a
season of alternating hot days and cool nights.

• [ trans. ] do or perform in turn repeatedly : some adults who wish to
alternate work with education.

adjective |ˈôltərnit| (abbr.: alt.) [ attrib. ]
1 - every other; every second : she was asked to attend on alternate days.

• (of two things) each following and succeeded by the other in a regular
pattern : alternate bouts of intense labor and of idleness.

• (of a sequence) consisting of alternate items.

• Botany (of leaves or shoots) placed alternately on the two sides of the
stem.

2 - taking the place of; alternative : the rerouted traffic takes a variety
of alternate routes.

noun |-nit| (abbr.: alt.) : a person who acts as a deputy or substitute.

DERIVATIVES
alternately |-nitlē| adverb
alternation |ˌôltərˈnā sh ən| noun

ORIGIN early 16th cent.: from Latin alternat- ‘done by turns,’ from
alternare, from alternus ‘every other,’ from alter ‘other, the other.’

you are right.

you are right.
Sorry


"Woody Wordpecker"  wrote in message 
news:k11k64dittdhf1mrtkosdvauh3fgr8jvmf@4ax.com...
> On Mon, 30 Jun 2008 22:40:58 +0200, "minimus"
>  said:
>
>> Which one is correct?
>> Alternate between three things
>> Alternate among three things
>
> You have posted this query separately to three newsgroups
> that I know of.  That's considered a no-no by some people.
> It's said to be wasteful of Internet resources compared with
> crossposting.
>
> On the other hand, given that some spam filters reject
> crosspostings to a number of groups greater than some
> specified number, I suppose it's a way to sneak around that
> potential obstacle.

10:56, mercoledì 9 luglio 2008, John John:
> Le 1/07/08 22:54, dans 6cvjspF3gd7U1@mid.individual.net, «
> Einde O'Callaghan »  a
> écrit :
>> ADPUF wrote:
>>> 00:37, martedì 1 luglio 2008, John Briggs:
>>>> ADPUF wrote:
>>>>> 22:53, lunedì 30 giugno 2008, John Briggs:
>>>>>> minimus wrote:
>>>>>>> Which one is correct?
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Alternate between three things
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Alternate among three things
>>>>>> Neither: alternate between two things.
>>>>> Suppose you have a three phase electric power system: you
>>>>> can alternate each one of the three phases to connect a
>>>>> mono-phase load every day to a different one of them.
>>>> "Alternate" is only correctly used for two choices.
>>> 
>>> Really?
>>> 
>> This is my reading of the dictionary definition form teh
>> Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
>> 
>> 1: occurring or succeeding by turns <a day of alternate
>> sunshine and rain> 2 a: arranged first on one side and then
>> on the other at different levels or points along an axial
>> line <alternate leaves> — compare opposite b: arranged one
>> above or alongside the other 3: every other : every second
>> <he works on alternate days> 4: constituting an alternative
>> <took the alternate route home> 5: alternative
>> 
>> Regards, Einde O'Callaghan
>   
> ALTERNATE
> verb |ˈôltərˌnāt| [ intrans. ] : occur in turn repeatedly :
> the governorship alternated between the Republican and
> Democratic parties | bouts of depression alternate with
> periods of elation | [as adj. ] ( alternating) a season of
> alternating hot days and cool nights.
> 
> • [ trans. ] do or perform in turn repeatedly : some adults
> who wish to alternate work with education.
> 
> adjective |ˈôltərnit| (abbr.: alt.) [ attrib. ]
> 1 - every other; every second : she was asked to attend on
> alternate days.
> 
> • (of two things) each following and succeeded by the other in
> a regular pattern : alternate bouts of intense labor and of
> idleness.
> 
> • (of a sequence) consisting of alternate items.
> 
> • Botany (of leaves or shoots) placed alternately on the two
> sides of the stem.
> 
> 2 - taking the place of; alternative : the rerouted traffic
> takes a variety of alternate routes.
> 
> noun |-nit| (abbr.: alt.) : a person who acts as a deputy or
> substitute.
> 
> DERIVATIVES
> alternately |-nitlē| adverb
> alternation |ˌôltərˈnā sh ən| noun
> 
> ORIGIN early 16th cent.: from Latin alternat- ‘done by turns,’
> from alternare, from alternus ‘every other,’ from alter
> ‘other, the other.’


I gave a look at my Italian dictionary which says that
"altro" (other) comes from Latin "alter" that means "the other
of two".


-- 
°¿°