[Vocabulary] Change or Alteration

[Commadela]

Hi everybody, i wish you have a good day.

I am confusing between "Alteration" and "Change". This is the context:

Why would we go shopping in a music store when we can get everything we need at home? Music stores know this and have taken account of the need for change.

I looked up in the Longman Dictionary and it said:

+Alteration: A small change that makes someone or something slightly different, or the process of the change.

+Change: A situation in which someone or something become different, or the act of making something different.

So "alteration" emphasizes that it's a part of the change, it happens gradually, little by little, doesn't it?

And in some regular contexts, which word do you prefer? And how about the situation?

Thank for reading. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[Barb_D]

I think of an "alteration" as something you make to a dress or suit to fit you better.

I would definitely not use it in the sentence you quoted.

The verb "alter" is more flexible - you can alter your path, your behavior, your dress, your plan. But once you do, I'd call them "changes" not "alterations."

 

[Commadela]

Thank you for quickly replying.

To be honest, I am still in the dark. So if the blanket word is a noun, you would use "change", right?

I read the examples of using "alteration" many times but i don't know what is the difference between it and "change", and how to use it correctly.

Ex:

If you make alteration to the Windows setup, save the new setting before closing.

I thought changes is fine, too.

 

[bhaisahab]

If you make alteration to the Windows setup, save the new setting before closing. Where did you find this?

 

[Commadela]

Hello sir, I found it from Longman dictionary of Contemporary English 5th edition.

Sorry idk if it is/was(?) legal to attach links outside from the board

http://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/alteration

 

[emsr2d2]

[strike]Hello sir, [/strike] Unnecessary and inappropriate, many users are female.

I found it [strike]from[/strike] in the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5th edition.

Sorry. [strike]idk[/strike] I don't know if it is [strike]/was(?)[/strike] legal to attach external links [strike]outside from[/strike] on the board.

http://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/alteration

Then the Longman Dictionary contains an error. It should say either "If you make alterations to ..." or "If you make an alteration to ...". It is absolutely fine to attach links, as long as they are relevant and they are used to show a point you are making.

 

[Commadela]

Thank you. It was my fault. It was "make alterations to", i am very sorry about that.