Otherwise means “or else”, “if not”: it shows what will happen if you do not do what was just said. Hurry up, otherwise we'll miss the bus. The second common meaning is “apart from that”: The flat is small, but otherwise it's perfect.
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clause; otherwise, + clause; Sentence. Otherwise, + sentence; advice, otherwise + clause (informal); …, but otherwise + clause (= apart from that)
- Governments must invest in clean energy now; otherwise, the cost of climate damage will keep rising.
- Take an umbrella, otherwise you'll get soaked on the way to the station.
- The hotel room was a bit noisy, but otherwise we had a lovely stay.
What changed
First versionYou should book the tickets today. In other case, they will be more expensive.
RevisionYou should book the tickets today. Otherwise, they will be more expensive.
“In other case” is not an English expression. The whole idea, “if you don't do this”, is expressed by the single word “otherwise”; the rest of the sentence stays the same.
“Otherwise” and “unless” are both about conditions, but they work differently. “Unless” means “if not”, and the condition itself comes after it: We'll be late unless we leave now. “Otherwise” follows advice or an instruction, and the result comes after it: Leave now, otherwise we'll be late.
Your turn
Save your work every few minutes, ___ you might lose it if the laptop crashes.
Show the answer
otherwise — First comes a piece of advice, and after the gap you learn what will happen if it is ignored. That result is introduced by “otherwise”. “Unless” means “if not” and needs a condition after it: You might lose your work unless you save it.
Give advice to a friend who is preparing for an exam or a job interview. Say what they need to do and, after otherwise, explain what will happen if they don't.
Get a good night's sleep before the interview; otherwise, you'll struggle to concentrate on the difficult questions.
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