Difference between どっち and どちら？

[rilynch37]

I am wondering if there any major difference between どっち and どちら? Both seem to mean "which." For example, the sentence 「バスと電車とどっちのほうが安いですか。」means "Is going by bus or train cheaper?" However, I think one can also say「バスと電車とどちらのほうが安いですか。」Is that right? Are there situations where one might be used over the other? Is one or the other more common? Thanks!

[community.japanese]

mathwiz20115519-san,
どちら is the polite version of どっち, those are often interchangeable, grammatically.
According to what politeness/formality you're required to use, you have to choose one
Hope this helps!

Natsuko(奈津子),
Team JapanesePod101.com

[rilynch37]

奈津子さん, that was really helpful! ありがとうございます！

If you don't mind, I have another question sparked by writing this response: 「That was really helpful」は日本語で「とても助かりました」ですか。If I knew this, I could have written my reply completely in Japanese. I hope my question is correctly stated as well. Thanks in advance!

[community.japanese]

mathwiz20115519-san,
どういたしまして！　
"It was very helpful" in Japanese is, yes, とても助かりました 　Your question was also correct!
Very well done

Questions are always welcome, so please feel free to ask us any questions about grammar, Japanese culture...anything!

Natsuko(奈津子),
Team JapanesePod101.com

[rilynch37]

奈津子さんはとても助かります。ありがとうございます！

[community.japanese]

mathwiz20115519さん、
どういたしまして！役に立ててよかったです

Natsuko(奈津子),
Team JapanesePod101.com