Look at the following two statements:
- Why Microsoft Had no choice But To Purchase Nokia's Handset
- US now has no option but to attack Syria
I think that both imply compulsion. But is there any fundamental difference between the two?
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Sign up to join this communityLook at the following two statements:
- Why Microsoft Had no choice But To Purchase Nokia's Handset
- US now has no option but to attack Syria
I think that both imply compulsion. But is there any fundamental difference between the two?
They mean exactly the same thing, since 'option' and 'choice' are synonyms.
EDIT
Heh - I've been told to expand on this answer, so I'll try, although really the answer it is just as straightforward as described above.
'Choice' and 'option' are nouns that are so closely aligned in meaning that http://www.thefreedictionary.com/ pretty much uses each to define the other. Moreover, in English speech, it is just about as common to say 'no choice but to' as 'no option but to', in both cases meaning 'Person X was compelled to do Y'.
Often there are subtle differences in the meaning of words, but in this case I can't discern any.
There is a difference between choice and option but not in this example. "Choice" is a situation where there are several courses of action available and one must be taken. "Option" is a particular course of action in such a situation. This is why the sentence "choice is no option" makes sense but not vice versa "option is no choice". In the negative, ("no choice", "no option"), no such situation exists in the first place therefore no course of action is available that could be taken, i.e. they both mean the same.
In an objective exam, a question is asked and some options (A, B, C and D ) will be given for the student to make his or her choice. To the student, choice can only be made if options are provided, and this means that there won't be a choice without options. When one option is available, the student's choice is restricted to that option or else, leave the space blank and when there is no option, the student is expected to write what he knows about the question. So, option comes before choice and choice is made out of the options