Why are there two search buttons?

On the English Usage Site Search page there are two search buttons, [SEARCH] and [Alt. search]. Which one should you use?

The simple answer is: Type your query into the text box, then click on the [SEARCH] button and see if it works. If it doesn't work for you, use the [Alt. search] (alternate search) button instead. Then continue to use the same button for future searches.

Quick explanation: The [SEARCH] button displays results more conveniently, but it doesn't work with all browsers. The [Alt. search] button is there for people who cannot use the [SEARCH] button because it doesn't work with their browser. Both buttons search the same pages and give the same results, but the results are displayed differently.

Fuller explanation:

• The [SEARCH] button is for modern browsers that execute a version of JavaScript that is compatible with the Google Custom Search. It causes the search results to be displayed on an alt-usage-english.org page like this one, with navigation bars linking to other pages on this site. See illustration below (Internet Explorer 7.0):
  
  
  
  
• If you use the [SEARCH] button with an incompatible browser, or you have configured your browser not to execute JavaScript, the browser might do nothing at all, or more likely it will display a results page with no results — not even "Your search did not match any documents". See illustration below (Opera 6.01):
  
  
  
  
• The [Alt. search] button is for browsers that do not execute a compatible version of JavaScript. It causes the search results to be displayed on a google.com page with no navigation bars. You can use your browser's [Back] button to return to the alt-usage-english.org site. See illustration below (Opera 6.01):
  
  
  

Return to the English Usage Site Search page