can be either

USAGE SUMMARY

"can be either" is a perfectly acceptable phrase in written English and can be used in a wide variety of contexts.
For example: "This choice can be either the best or the worst one you'll ever make."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Stress can be either positive or negative to human beings.

Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences

Easements can be either exclusive or nonexclusive.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Gnocchi can be either a disaster or a delight.

The New York Times

Meritage wines can be either red or white.

The New York Times - Food

Black swans can be either positive or negative.

The Guardian - Business

A competency can be either a skill or behaviour.

The Guardian

The result can be either cacophonous or subtle.

The Guardian - Music

In essence, they can be either spent or saved.

The Economist

A carbon nanotube can be either.

Forbes

Objects can be either simple or complex.

SEP

Explosions can be either deflagrating or detonating.

Probabilistic Safety Assessment in the Chemical and Nuclear Industries

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "can be either" to present two distinct possibilities or options, ensuring clarity by specifying both alternatives.

Common error

Ensure both options following "can be either" are clearly stated to avoid ambiguity. For instance, instead of saying "The problem can be either fixed", specify "The problem "can be either" fixed easily or require a complete overhaul."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "can be either" functions as a connector introducing two alternative possibilities or states. Ludwig examples show it's used to present options in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

55%

News & Media

25%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "can be either" is a commonly used phrase to introduce alternative possibilities, as confirmed by Ludwig. Grammatically correct, it appears frequently in scientific writing, news, and encyclopedic contexts. To ensure clarity, always specify both alternatives following the phrase. Remember, while other options exist like "may be either" or "could be either", "can be either" provides a direct way to present two distinct choices.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

may be either

Substitutes "can" with "may", suggesting possibility rather than ability.

could be either

Replaces "can" with "could", indicating a conditional or less certain possibility.

might be either

Uses "might" instead of "can", conveying a weaker likelihood.

is possibly either

Introduces "possibly", softening the assertion of two potential states.

is potentially either

Emphasizes the potential nature of the two options.

can also be

Focuses on adding an alternative characteristic, not necessarily one of two exclusive options.

may also be

Combines possibility with the addition of an alternative characteristic.

can alternatively be

Highlights the alternative nature of the possibilities.

is either

Drops "can be", focusing solely on the existence of two options.

is one of

Generalizes the statement to indicate selection from a set of options, not necessarily two.

FAQs

How to use "can be either" in a sentence?

The phrase "can be either" introduces two alternative possibilities or states. For example, "The outcome "can be either" a success or a failure".

What can I say instead of "can be either"?

You can use alternatives like "may be either", "could be either", or "might be either" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "can be either" or "can either be"?

"Can be either" is the standard and more common phrasing. "Can either be" is grammatically possible, but less frequently used and may sound awkward in some contexts.

What's the difference between "can be either" and "must be either"?

"Can be either" implies a choice or possibility between two options, while "must be either" suggests a necessary condition where one of two options is inevitable.