Grammar Girl here.

This week we'll discuss choices about how to best use the words option and alternative.

Frequently the words option and alternative are used interchangeably, but there is a difference.

Do you know what it is?

Let's say Horatio has a primary plan of action.

He says, I'm going to finish this report before we leave on our family trip this holiday

weekend.

That way, I can enjoy the holiday, help with the driving, and relax when we get home

Sunday afternoon.

Great plan, but is that the only possibility?

No, Horatio has some alternatives to planning.

Let's count them.

One, Horatio can work on his report in the car going to and from the destination.

Two, he can carve out some time while he's at Ann Esther's house and finish the report

there.

It should only take a few hours, right?

Or three, Horatio can wait until he gets home and spend Sunday evening doing the report.

For the sake of this illustration, let's leave it at that.

After all, Horatio has enough to handle without computing all the permutations.

So Horatio has the original plan A and the three other possibilities.

How many alternatives does he have?

Did you say four?

...