can either be

USAGE SUMMARY

"can either be" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when there are two possibilities or choices. For example: "The eggs can either be boiled or scrambled."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This can either be an intriguing statement or a question.

The Guardian - Tech

Alarms can either be internal or external signals.

The New York Times

"That can either be a plus or a minus".

The New York Times

We can either be friends or hate each other.

The Guardian - Business

"It can either be masonry or insulated pipe".

The New York Times

The shapes can either be inclusive or exclusive.

Harvard University

The arguments can either be file names or NumPy arrays.

Harvard University

Third, the heroic act can either be passive or active.

University of California, Berkeley

So the value can either be 0 or 1.

Princeton University

Proteins can either be soluble, crystalline or precipitated.

International Journal of Pharmaceutics

This code can either be hand-written or tool generated.

VHDL Coding and Logic Synthesis with Synopsys®

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "can either be", ensure that the sentence clearly presents two distinct and mutually exclusive possibilities.

Common error

Avoid using "can either be" when more than two possibilities exist, or when the two options aren't clearly defined. This can lead to ambiguity and confusion. Instead, specify all possibilities or rephrase for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "can either be" functions as a connector introducing alternative possibilities. It sets up a binary choice, indicating that one of two options is valid or possible. Ludwig examples show its use across diverse contexts, confirming its role in presenting alternatives.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

27%

Science

27%

Wiki

25%

Less common in

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "can either be" is a common and versatile phrase used to present two alternative possibilities. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and widely applicable across various contexts, including news, science, and general explanations. When using this phrase, ensure that the alternatives are distinct and clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. Consider related phrases like "may be either" or "could either be" for nuanced variations. Be mindful of source appropriateness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

may be either

Replaces "can" with "may", suggesting possibility rather than ability or permission.

could either be

Substitutes "can" with "could", indicating a conditional possibility.

might either be

Employs "might" instead of "can", suggesting a lower probability.

can alternatively be

Uses "alternatively" to emphasize the choice between options.

can also be

Omits "either", suggesting the possibility of both options existing simultaneously.

may also be

A more tentative version of "can also be".

can be one of

Focuses on selecting one option from a set.

can be classified as

Emphasizes categorization into one of two types.

can be defined as

Highlights defining something as one of two options.

is either

Omission of "can be" gives a more direct declaration of two possibilities.

FAQs

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

Use "can either be" to present two options or possibilities. For example, "The payment "can either be" made online or in person."

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

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

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

""can either be"" is the standard and grammatically correct phrasing. "Can be either" is less common and may sound awkward.

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

"Can either be" indicates a choice between two options, while "can also be" suggests that both options are possible, either separately or together.