could be either

USAGE SUMMARY

"could be either" is a perfectly valid part of a sentence in written English.
You can use it when referring to two possible options among other things. For example: "The result of the experiment could be either positive or negative."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

"Could be either.

The New Yorker

It could be either.

The Guardian

"Season of the Witch" could be either.

The New York Times - Arts

As at present, it could be either.

The New York Times

Omid Djalili could be either," he said.

Independent

A tail could be either (2).

The Guardian - Music

It could be either, couldn't it.

The Guardian - Sport

The truth is, it could be either.

The Guardian - Tech

It could be either – or both.

The Guardian - Arts

The news could be either good or bad for Haye.

The Guardian - Sport

"It could be either or none of them".

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "could be either" when presenting two mutually exclusive possibilities. Ensure the context clearly defines both options for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "could be either" when more than two options are available. "Either" implies a choice between exactly two possibilities; for more than two, consider using "could be any of" or "could be one of".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "could be either" functions as a connector indicating uncertainty between two possibilities. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound. It introduces an alternative, suggesting that one of two options is valid.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

41%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "could be either" is a versatile phrase used to express uncertainty between two options. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and wide applicability. It appears frequently in both News & Media and Science contexts, indicating its relevance across various domains. When using the phrase, ensure the two options are clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. Remember to avoid using "either" when there are more than two choices. Alternatives such as "might be one or the other" and "may be this or that" can be used depending on the desired nuance. The phrase is a common and useful tool for expressing possibilities.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

might be one or the other

Emphasizes the binary nature of the choice, focusing on one option being true.

may be this or that

Uses "may" to indicate a lower degree of certainty compared to "could".

possibly be either

Replaces "could" with "possibly", suggesting a slightly lower probability.

can be either

Substitutes "could" with "can", implying possibility or capability, but does not work well in some sentences.

it is either one or the other

Adds emphasis by explicitly stating that only one of the options is valid.

it's a matter of either

Frames the situation as a choice between two defined possibilities.

it could equally be

Indicates that both options are equally probable.

the answer is either

Positions the phrase as the resolution to a question or problem.

it's potentially either

Emphasizes the potential for either option to occur.

perhaps it's either

Introduces the idea with "perhaps", indicating a speculative tone.

FAQs

How do I use "could be either" in a sentence?

Use "could be either" to indicate that one of two possibilities is true. For example: "The problem "could be either" a software bug or a hardware malfunction".

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

You can use alternatives like "might be one or the other", "may be this or that", or "possibly be either" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "could be either or"?

Saying "could be either or" is redundant. The correct phrasing is ""could be either"", as "either" already implies a choice between two options.

What's the difference between "could be either" and "could be both"?

"Could be either" indicates a choice between two mutually exclusive options, while "could be both" suggests that both options can be true simultaneously.