I was in either

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I was in either" is not correct and lacks clarity in written English.
It may be intended to express being in one of two options or places, but it requires additional context to be meaningful. Example: "I was in either the library or the café, but I can't remember which one."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

I was in either third or fourth grade.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

"I want to feel like I am in either your living room, or you are in mine, and we are all there to share some wonderful stories.

Huffington Post

"I'd never heard of Ahmanson Ranch when I was in office, either". The Ventura County Board of Supervisors approved the housing project in 1992.

Los Angeles Times

I didn't either until I was in Cartagena and heard about the 1-hour boat ride to Rosario Islands.

Huffington Post

I didn't exactly feel unduly burdened by the long hours either; I was in fact exhilarated by the pace.

Forbes

But again, I've never been in either one so you'll have to see for yourself.

TechCrunch

If the required ARRtarget(i) was extreme in either the low or high direction, a policy of treat all or treat none, respectively, was preferred.

BMJ Open

I never realised how far I was ahead in either race.

The Guardian - Sport

Since I was not in either of those places, I was bounced, unable to give until spring of next year.

Los Angeles Times

If I am in heels I am either working or I care.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

I'm in no hurry, either.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a situation where you were in one of two places, clarify your sentence to specify which place or use "one of the two" for better clarity.

Common error

Do not use "I was in either" without providing clear context about the choices. This phrase can confuse readers; make your intended meaning explicit by specifying the alternatives.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I was in either" functions as an incomplete predicate. It suggests a state of being located in one of two options but lacks explicit specification, thus requiring further context to be grammatically sound. As Ludwig AI points out, it lacks clarity in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Academia

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I was in either" is generally considered grammatically questionable due to its lack of clear context. Ludwig AI confirms that it is not correct and requires additional information to be meaningful. While it appears infrequently across various sources such as News & Media, Science and Academia, its usage necessitates explicit clarification of the choices being referenced. To avoid ambiguity, it is recommended to use alternative phrases that specify the options or use constructions like "I was in one of the two places" for improved clarity and grammatical correctness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I was at one of the places

Specifies being at a single place from a set, removing the "either" connotation.

I was in one of those locations

Replaces 'either' with 'one of those', suggesting a selection from known locations.

I was in one of the options

Refers to being in one of several options presented.

I found myself in one of two situations

Emphasizes being in a specific situation out of two possibilities.

I was in this or that

Uses a more direct way to refer to one of the two options.

I was in the first or the second

Clarifies being in one of two sequential items/options.

I was present in one of the two

Uses 'present' to indicate being at one of two places.

I participated in one or the other

Emphasizes involvement in one of two activities.

I existed in one of those states

Refers to being in a particular state out of two possible states.

I experienced one of the two

Highlights undergoing a situation from two alternatives.

FAQs

How can I correctly express being in one of two places?

Instead of "I was in either", specify the options: "I was in the library or the cafe". You can also use constructions like "I was in "one of the two" places" for general cases.

What is a clearer way to say "I was in either"?

Alternatives include "I was in "one of those locations"", or "I was in "this or that"", depending on context. Be explicit about the choices you're referring to.

Is it grammatically correct to say "I was in either"?

While sometimes used, "I was in either" is often grammatically incomplete. It needs additional information to clarify which option is being referred to. It's better to rephrase for clarity.

What's the difference between "I was in either the park or the zoo" and "I was in either"?

"I was in either the park or the zoo" is correct because it provides the choices. "I was in either" alone is incomplete and lacks context. It requires specifying "either what?"