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# otherwise

«otherwise» in Mova's school dictionary: **«if not» or «or else»: what will happen if something is…** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 2 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it.

### part of speech

adverb (otherwise); also a joining word (= or else)

### meaning for a pupil

1) Otherwise means «if not» or «or else»: what will happen if something is not done. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/otherwise/#m1)

2) Otherwise means «apart from that» or «in other ways». [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/otherwise/#m2)

3) Otherwise means «differently» or «in a different way». [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/otherwise/#m3)

### sense in the lessons

In reasoning and maths word problems, «otherwise» marks the other case: «If it is even, put it in box A; otherwise, put it in box B» — every number that is not even goes in B. In everyday life and safety: «Hold the rail, otherwise you might fall». It helps the reader see a choice and its result. Phrases: «unless told otherwise», «or otherwise», «think otherwise».

### examples

- Wear your coat, otherwise you'll get cold. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/otherwise/#x1)
- Hurry up, otherwise we'll miss the bus. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/otherwise/#x2)
- The soup was a bit salty, but otherwise it was lovely. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/otherwise/#x3)
- I was tired, but otherwise I felt fine. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/otherwise/#x4)
- If the number is even, colour it red; otherwise colour it blue. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/otherwise/#x5)
- Stay in your seats unless I say otherwise. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/otherwise/#x6)
- Mum thought it would rain, but Dad thought otherwise. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/otherwise/#x7)
- Wash your hands, otherwise germs can spread. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/otherwise/#x8)
- Otherwise you must die upon the spot." [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/otherwise/#x9)

### note

In writing, «otherwise» joining two sentences usually comes after a comma or a semicolon: «Hurry, otherwise we'll be late». In logic it covers all cases not already named. Do not write it as two words («other wise»).

### In the corpora

- [Some of the smallest animals here are the rarest of all, and zoos breed them to save kinds that would otherwise disappear.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/biology/97-the-insect-house-ants-stick-insects-tarantulas-and-scorpions/4/)
- [People looking at phones while crossing miss cars they would otherwise have seen.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/266-walking-and-crossing-roads/21/)

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «otherwise» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/otherwise/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.