Using ‘otherwise’

Sometime back, there was a buzz in the media with re=ards to Ivanka Trump (US President Donald Trump’s dau=hter) not knowin= how to use the word “otherwise” in her tweet. Her tweet read ‘Cuddlin= my little nephew Luke the best part of an otherwise incredible day!’

Did you notice anythin= odd? What is the correct way to use the word ‘otherwise’?

Let’s look at some specific examples that illustrate how this word can be used.

1.Used after a su==estion

if you do not follow that su==estion. Synonym = ‘Or else”

Use ‘otherwise’ after you state a situation or a fact, in order to say what the result or consequence would be if this situation or fact was not the case.

• You’d better call home, otherwise your mother will start to worry.

(The consequence= mother will start to worry)

• They had to leave early, otherwise they would have missed the plane.

(The consequence= would have missed the plane)

• Let me know if you want it, otherwise I will =ive it to my brother.

(The consequence= I will =ive it to my brother)

• Make a note of the questions you want to ask. You will for=et them otherwise.

(The consequence= you will for=et them)

Use ‘otherwise’ to refer in a =eneral way to actions or situations that are very different from, or the opposite to, your main statement.

• Marion Morrison, otherwise known as the film star John Wayne, was born in 1907.

(Main statement = Marion Morrison)

(Opposite or different situation = known as the film star John Wayne)

• Parts of the car will be sold or otherwise dismantled.

(Main statement = Parts of the car will be sold) (Opposite or different situation= Parts of the car will be dismantled)

• Tickets can be bought in advance at a discount, otherwise they can be purchased at the door for full price.

(Main statement = Tickets can be bought in advance at a discount)

(Opposite or different situation = Tickets can be purchased at the door for full price)

• Art allows us to express things that we would not be able to express otherwise.

(Main statement = Art allows us to express things) (Opposite or different situation = we will not be able to express)

• I wanted this to be my wedding song, but was convinced otherwise.

(Main statement = I wanted this to be my wedding son=)

(Opposite or different situation= this was not my weddin= son=) 3. Used to show that somethin= is completely different from what you think it is or from what was previously stated. In other words, it is used for sayin= that somethin= is true except for the fact that you have just mentioned.

Use ‘otherwise’ before you state the =eneral condition or quality of somethin=, when you are also mentionin= an exception to this =eneral condition or quality.

• The car needs new tyres, but otherwise it’s in =ood condition.

(General condition of the car is =ood)

• The driver suffered a shock but is otherwise unhurt.

(General condition of the driver= unhurt)

• She might have told you that she was a qualified nurse, but the truth is otherwise.

(She is not a qualified nurse)

• I didn’t like the ending, but otherwise it was a very =ood movie.

(Generally, the movie is very =ood)

• It rained in the morning, but it was a beautiful day otherwise.

(Generally, it was a beautiful day)

• You don’t know what happened, so don’t try to pretend otherwise.

(That you know what happened)

• While some people think it is true, our research proves otherwise.

(Our research proves it is false)

• The decorations for the games have given a splash of colour to an otherwise drab city.

(Generally, it is a drab city)

Use ‘otherwise’ when you are mentionin= an undesirable situation which would occur if somethin= did not happen. Put ‘otherwise’ at the be=innin= of a clause.

• Something must be wrong; otherwise, he would have called.

(‘Otherwise’ indicates if somethin= was not wron=)

• Thank you for reminding me; otherwise I mi=ht have missed the meetin=.

(‘Otherwise’ indicates if you did not remind me)

• The new computer program allows us to do in seconds what would otherwise take us days to accomplish.

(‘Otherwise’ indicates without the computer pro=ram) Use in place of or as synonyms of ‘apart from this’ and ‘if not’.

• The sea was very rough and we could not swim all week, but apart from this we enjoyed ourselves. • The sea was very rough and we could not swim all week, but otherwise we enjoyed ourselves.

It also has the meanin= of ‘if not’, in the sense of ‘if this does not happen’, or ‘if this were not the case’, when it is used as a linkin= device.

• Remember to use sun lotion when you go down to the beach. If you don’t, you’ll =et sunburnt. • Remember to use sun lotion when you go down to the beach. Otherwise, you’ll =et sunburnt.

• Look, we really must hurry. If we don’t, we’ll miss the football match. • Look, we really must hurry. Otherwise, we’ll miss the football match.

• He must be good at dribbling the ball. If he wasn’t, he wouldn’t have =ot into the team. • He must be good at dribbling the ball. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have =ot into the team.

Sometimes, we use ‘unless otherwise’. When do we use this phrase?

This is a phrase to use when =ivin= instructions. “Unless otherwise instructed” means “unless someone =ives you different instructions”.

• All matches will begin at 8pm unless otherwise notified.

(Main statement = All shows begin at 8pm)

(Opposite or different situation= a different time other than 8pm)