alternative pleading vs pleading in the alternative

alternative pleading and pleading in the alternative both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
alternative pleading	Yes	No	No	No
pleading in the alternative	Yes	No	No	No

As nouns, alternative pleading and pleading in the alternative are synonyms defined as:

alternative pleading and pleading in the alternative: a pleading that alleges facts so separate that it is difficult to determine which facts the person intends to rely on

alternative pleading (noun)	pleading in the alternative (noun)
a pleading that alleges facts so separate that it is difficult to determine which facts the person intends to rely on	a pleading that alleges facts so separate that it is difficult to determine which facts the person intends to rely on