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Hotmale Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

Otherwise/or

Hello,

I've read in my grammar book that in colloquial English "or" can often replace "otherwise", eg.

We must be early or/otherwise we won't get a seat.

My question is about situations where "or" cannot replace "otherwise". Could you explain that to me, please?

Thank you
  

Top answer

Hotmale situations where "or" cannot replace "otherwise" At the beginning of a sentence "otherwise" is preferable. We had better hurry. Otherwise, we'll be late.

— CalifJim

  • Hotmale situations where "or" cannot replace "otherwise" At the beginning of a sentence "otherwise" is preferable.
  • We had better hurry.
  • Otherwise, we'll be late.
  • ) CJ
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5 Answers
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Hotmalesituations where "or" cannot replace "otherwise"
At the beginning of a sentence "otherwise" is preferable.

We had better hurry. Otherwise, we'll be late. (You would not write "Or" in this example.)

CJ
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Though none come to mind offhand, there are probably instances where or meaning if not would cause confusion. However, you can never go wrong with or else.

Of course, or cannot be used in place of otherwise when it's not a conjunction: He believes otherwise.
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"or" cannot replace "otherwise" in the following sentences. You will find other examples in a dictionary.

You can do that or you can do otherwise.
He never intended otherwise.
It was an otherwise brilliant performance.

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Thank you, CalifJim. I unserstand now Emotion: smile
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Thank you, Canadian45, for your answer. I should have written that my question concerns conditional sentences, but your post is very useful to me.
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