From: Steve Shaw

"This American use of alternate is still regarded as incorrect by many people in Britain."

You said it, Nige. Remind me - which side of the pond do you live on?

I reside in Wales, and am quite capable of understanding English. "Still regarded as incorrect by many people in Britain." I suppose you are unable to read into that the fact that the usage is also regarded as correct by some of the people in Britain. The English language is still a living language (it changes and grows), and has a great number (I would say 'the majority' but that is another word which you have problems understanding) of which come from other languages. That some are now coming to us from American English should not come as a surprise.