alternating

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "alternating" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that occurs in turns or in a repeated pattern, often in relation to two or more elements. Example: "The alternating colors of the stripes on the flag create a striking visual effect."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

At 150 minutes, the epic length of the film posed a challenge to programmers trying to offer customers a choice of two evening showtimes, and there was evidence of straddling across two screens, alternating with a shorter film.

The Guardian - Film

Strong visions of the future have played a part in the irrational persistence needed to push through transformative technological change: whether that is the development of alternating current or PayPal.

The Guardian - Tech

Positano is small and beautiful – especially in early summer – but its narrow streets take alternating twists, and one set of shortcut steps looks much like another.

The Guardian - Travel

A big believer in rotation, he tends to pick horses for courses while alternating between a fluid 4-3-3 formation and a 4-4-2 basediamondndiamond

The Guardian - Sport

By oscillating at a similar (ie, close enough) frequency to the human heart, a sufficiently strong alternating current can cause that organ to beat arhythmically and thereby induce ventricular fibrillation a potentially deadly condition that needs to be corrected immediately.But all electricity is dangerous.

The Economist

But instead of competing technologically, and winning, he turned to showmanship and lost.It is true, and was the basis of Edison's showmanship, that low-frequency alternating current can be more hazardous than an equivalent direct current.

The Economist

Meanwhile, the conductors themselves can be made thinner, because they do not suffer from the so-called "skin effect"—the tendency of an alternating current to flow mostly near the surface of a conductor, reducing its effective cross-sectional area and increasing its resistance in the process.

The Economist

It is formed of alternating layers of aluminium oxide and sodium ions.

The Economist

This vast installation will transform high-voltage direct current to alternating current.

The Economist

Edison, nevertheless, organised publicity stunts galore involving animals (including, on one occasion, an elephant) being electrocuted by alternating current as he sought to convince everyone who would listen that AC was too risky to have around the home.

The Economist

When the Socialists put up lists of alternating male and female candidates in the 1994 European election, voters were unimpressed.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a pattern with two options, ensure it's clear which elements are "alternating". For example, "The flag has "alternating" red and white stripes" is better than "The flag has "alternating" stripes."

Common error

Avoid using "alternating" when describing a continuous gradient or gradual change. "Alternating" implies distinct, repeating states, not a smooth transition.

Linguistic Context

The word "alternating" functions primarily as a present participle of the verb alternate, often used as an adjective. Ludwig's examples show it modifying nouns to describe patterns or sequences. The Ludwig AI confirms its correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

59%

Science

22%

Formal & Business

19%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the term "alternating" functions as a present participle/adjective, effectively describing a recurring sequence or pattern. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage across various contexts, especially in news, science, and formal communication. While it's a versatile term, clarity is crucial to ensure the alternating elements are clearly defined. Be careful not to use it to describe gradients. In choosing a substitute, consider "taking turns", "interchanging", or "switching", depending on the nuance you want to convey. Ludwig AI can further assist in refining your use of "alternating" within specific sentences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

taking turns

This phrase indicates a sequential action where individuals or entities perform a task in a specified order.

taking it in turns

This is a more descriptive variation of "taking turns", emphasizing the shared responsibility.

switching back and forth

This suggests a frequent change between two options or states.

interchanging

This implies a mutual exchange or replacement of items or roles.

rotating

This term denotes a cyclical pattern of change or succession.

changing periodically

This highlights the temporal aspect of the change, suggesting it happens at regular intervals.

oscillating

This is often used in technical contexts to describe a regular back-and-forth movement or fluctuation.

varying

This suggests a change or fluctuation without necessarily implying a regular pattern.

reciprocating

This indicates a mutual or corresponding action or movement.

sequencing

This implies a specific order or arrangement of events or items.

FAQs

How can I use "alternating" in a sentence?

Use "alternating" to describe a pattern where two or more things repeatedly take turns. For example, "The runner was "alternating" between sprinting and jogging".

What's a good substitute for "alternating"?

Depending on the context, you could use "taking turns", "interchanging", or "switching" as alternatives to "alternating".

Is it correct to say "alternating current" or should I use a different term?

"Alternating current" is the correct and widely accepted term in physics and electrical engineering to describe current that reverses direction periodically.

What is the difference between "alternating" and "alternative"?

"Alternating" describes something that happens in turns, while "alternative" refers to a choice between two or more possibilities. For example, you might use "alternating" colors in a design, or you might have an "alternative" plan if the first one fails.