Alternation

2026.05.09

🌐 日本語版 →

Alternation is an Elliott Wave guideline stating that corrective subwaves within the same wave tend to take different forms from each other. It is observed between waves 2 and 4 within an impulse, and between waves A and B within a flat.

Overview

Alternation is a guideline stating that corrective subwaves within the same wave tend to take different forms.

As the name “alternation” suggests, two corrective waves at the same degree tend to take contrasting forms rather than similar ones. Specifically, this is observed at the positions of wave 2 and wave 4 within an impulse, and at waves A and B within a flat.

If wave 2 takes a zigzag-type form (sharp correction), wave 4 tends to take a flat- or triangle-type form (sideways correction), and the reverse also holds. The same tendency applies within a flat — if wave A is a zigzag, wave B tends to be a flat; if wave A is a flat, wave B tends to be a zigzag.

Illustrated Chart

Alternation example: Wave 2 = zigzag, Wave 4 = flat — Click to expand
S 1 2 3 4 5 Sharp correction (zigzag) Sideways correction (flat)
A form where wave 2 ends as a sharp zigzag and wave 4 forms a sideways flat. The “alternating” difference in form between waves 2 and 4 is the typical example of alternation. The red shaded area shows wave 2’s sharp correction, and the blue shaded area shows wave 4’s sideways correction.
How to read the diagram: Compare the shaded areas of wave 2 (red) and wave 4 (blue). Note how the two corrective waves within the same impulse take entirely different forms.

Detailed Points

  1. Impulse: Wave 2 tends to be a sharp correction (zigzag-type), wave 4 tends to be a sideways correction (flat- or triangle-type)

    Corrective waves at the same degree within an impulse — waves 2 and 4 — tend to take contrasting forms. The reverse pattern (wave 2 as flat, wave 4 as zigzag) also holds.

  2. Flat: If wave A is a zigzag, wave B tends to be a flat; if wave A is a flat, wave B tends to be a zigzag

    The alternation tendency is also observed in the relationship between corrective waves A and B within a flat.

  3. Count verification: if wave ② is a zigzag and wave ④ is a flat, alternation is satisfied

    As an indicator when verifying the validity of a count, check the forms of waves ② and ④. If they take different forms, the alternation guideline is satisfied.

Wave Personality
Each of waves 1–5 and A–E has its own characteristic born from crowd psychology. More applicable at primary degree and above.
Failure (Truncation)
The phenomenon in an impulse where the end of wave 5 fails to exceed the end of wave 3. Also called truncation.

Summary

Alternation is an Elliott Wave guideline stating that corrective subwaves within the same wave tend to take different forms from each other.

Within an impulse, waves 2 and 4 take contrasting forms; within a flat, waves A and B take contrasting forms. If wave 2 is a sharp zigzag-type correction, wave 4 tends to be a sideways flat- or triangle-type correction; if wave A is a zigzag, wave B tends to be a flat — they appear alternately. This guideline can also be used to verify the validity of a count.

📖 View details in the dictionary app →