# alternate vs alternately

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### alternate
*adjective · IPA /ɔlʈə(r).neʈ/ · frequency rank #5,932*
Happening by turns; one following the other in succession of time or place; first one and then the other (repeatedly).

### alternately
*adverb · IPA [ɔːlˈtɜɹnətlɪ] · frequency rank #21,719*
In reciprocal succession; succeeding by turns; in alternate order.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alternate-vs-alternately