Pardon the intrusion, I was hoping someone could help me out understanding 
the subtle differences (if any) between 'else' and 'otherwise' in the 
following.

What's better:

If {something happens}, {the following happens}.  Else {something else 
happens}.
If {something happens}, {the following happens}.  Otherwise {something else 
happens}.

I would appreciate any thoughts on this, it is really hard for a non-native 
speaker and the dictionary doesn't help.

mijn naam <whatever@hotmail.invalid> wrote:

> Pardon the intrusion, I was hoping someone could help me out understanding
> the subtle differences (if any) between 'else' and 'otherwise' in the
> following.
> 
> What's better:
> 
> If {something happens}, {the following happens}.  Else {something else
> happens}.

The terse 'else' form is usually reserved for high-level computer
languages (and those who speak them fluently).

'Or else' is sometimes used in conversational English, although it often
implies a threat, or some other portent of doom.

> If {something happens}, {the following happens}.  Otherwise {something else
> happens}.

That would be the most common form in conversational/written English.
But with the clauses separated by commas, rather than full stops.

> I would appreciate any thoughts on this, it is really hard for a non-native
> speaker and the dictionary doesn't help.

Use 'otherwise', or else people might misinterpret your intentions.

-- 
Alan Pemberton
Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England
To e-mail me directly, please visit
<http://www.pembers.freeserve.co.uk/index.html#Mail-me>

"Alan Pemberton" <Spambox@pembers.freeserve.co.uk.invalid> schreef in 
bericht 
news:1ilcmzy.jq0jvy3omfvsN%Spambox@pembers.freeserve.co.uk.invalid...
> mijn naam <whatever@hotmail.invalid> wrote:
>
>> Pardon the intrusion, I was hoping someone could help me out 
>> understanding
>> the subtle differences (if any) between 'else' and 'otherwise' in the
>> following.
>>
>> What's better:
>>
>> If {something happens}, {the following happens}.  Else {something else
>> happens}.
>
> The terse 'else' form is usually reserved for high-level computer
> languages (and those who speak them fluently).
>
> 'Or else' is sometimes used in conversational English, although it often
> implies a threat, or some other portent of doom.
>
>> If {something happens}, {the following happens}.  Otherwise {something 
>> else
>> happens}.
>
> That would be the most common form in conversational/written English.
> But with the clauses separated by commas, rather than full stops.
>
>> I would appreciate any thoughts on this, it is really hard for a 
>> non-native
>> speaker and the dictionary doesn't help.
>

Thank you very much.

> Use 'otherwise', or else people might misinterpret your intentions.
                   ^^^^^^^

lol, nice example :-)