# How to use “else” correctly in English

By [English Tips](https://paragraph.com/@english-tips) · 2022-07-15

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A typical mistake non-native English speakers often make: using the word _else_ instead of _otherwise_.

For example:

> ❌ If the weather is good, we’ll go for a walk, **else** we’ll stay inside.

It would sound much more natural to use _otherwise_:

> ✔️ If the weather is good, we’ll go for a walk, **otherwise** we’ll stay inside.

_Else_ is mostly used in phrases like “someone else”, “what else”, “nothing else” etc.

> ✔️ Who **else** wants to play?

> ✔️ Open mind for a different view / And nothing **else** matters

Remember: English isn’t a C-like programming language!

![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/c2394342ff959c06f1ecefcaa47c7b5403b89cf0623bd8994acf86ce3686dc07.jpg)

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*Originally published on [English Tips](https://paragraph.com/@english-tips/how-to-use-else-correctly-in-english)*