Meaning & use
otherwise
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Meanings
adverbnot comparable
If not; used to say what will happen when the action just mentioned is not taken.
Grammar: Joins advice or a warning to its result: Hurry, otherwise we'll miss it.
Patterns
- do something, otherwise
- otherwise it will
Take an umbrella; otherwise you'll get soaked.
Set the alarm, otherwise you'll sleep through the meeting.
adverbnot comparable
In every other way; apart from the thing just mentioned.
Grammar: Common pattern: an otherwise + adjective + noun, as in an otherwise quiet street.
Patterns
- an otherwise + adjective + noun
- but otherwise
The hotel was old-fashioned but otherwise pleasant.
Rain spoiled an otherwise perfect day.
adverbnot comparable
In a different way; differently.
Grammar: Follows verbs like say, think, decide, and suggest: I think otherwise.
Patterns
- say or think otherwise
- or otherwise
I expected a refusal, but she decided otherwise.
We welcome feedback, positive or otherwise.
Common combinations
- or otherwise
- Please share any comments, positive or otherwise.
- unless otherwise stated
- All prices include tax unless otherwise stated.
- otherwise known as
- The plant, otherwise known as sea lavender, grows along the coast.
- say otherwise
- The results look fine; nothing suggests otherwise.
- an otherwise perfect day
- A flat tire spoiled an otherwise perfect day.
Synonyms and how they differ
- or else
- Works only in the warning sense and sounds more forceful and less neutral than otherwise.
- if not
- A phrase with the same conditional meaning; it cannot replace otherwise in phrases like an otherwise quiet day.
- differently
- Matches only the in a different way sense; it cannot introduce a consequence.
Word family
- other determiner
- Meaning different or additional; otherwise is built from other + -wise.
Commonly confused: otherwise or other?
otherwise vs other
Other is a determiner or pronoun meaning different or additional; otherwise is an adverb meaning if not or in other respects.
Practice
Finish your homework now; ___, you won't be allowed to watch the film.
Choose one answer.
Otherwise introduces the negative result of not acting: if you do not finish now, the film is off. Moreover and meanwhile simply add information, and therefore introduces a conclusion, not a consequence of inaction.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “otherwise”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.