either

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "either" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to say that one or the other of two possibilities is true or when you want to present two different choices. Example sentence: I can either go to the park or stay home and read.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"For customers intending to start or finish their journey at King's Cross, consideration should be given to deferring travel plans to either Sunday or Monday.

The Guardian - Business

The grievances aren't unreasonable, on either side, but the focus on fairness, by making it harder to reach any kind of agreement at all, could prove disastrous.

The New York Times

Northern Ireland secretary John Reid has until Saturday night to find a compromise between Sinn Fein and David Trimble's Ulster Unionists on decommissioning, police reform and demilitarisation, or again suspend the assembly (either indefinitely or for six weeks) or call fresh elections.

The Guardian

Two of them came during the first half, one of which saw substitute Lyle Taylor pass-up the best chance of the match for either side.

The Guardian - Sport

So while it's certain that the problems haven't really changed, nor have the solutions if either of these flagship announcements are anything to go by.

The Guardian

With only an outline sketch of an agreement on the table, many of Europe's most senior policymakers are of the opinion that a crisis point will be reached and that Athens's radical left Syriza government will be forced to either capitulate to Brussels or quit the euro.

The Guardian

Either way, you should probably brace yourself for something genuinely nightmarish.

The Guardian - Film

Andy Roddick doesn't have one of those T-shirts either, but that has not stopped the promising but raw 18-year-old from being promoted as a champion elect.

The Guardian - Sport

Cockell said, "We are being pushed into a position where either things will fail or the system has to change … we can't cope unless someone takes that big step … to change the way we operate".

The Guardian

In September 2012, as part of my PhD studies, I made a routine request under the Freedom of Information Act asking the Department for Education to release the application forms submitted by groups who had applied to open free schools, and the letters sent to inform them about the government's decision to either grant or deny their application.

The Guardian

Eighteen of them were either guillotined or shot by firing squad during this period.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "either" to present two options, ensure you also include "or" to clearly connect the alternatives. For example, "You can "either" stay or go".

Common error

Avoid using "either" without its corresponding "or" when presenting options. Using "either" alone can create grammatical incompleteness and confuse the reader.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "either" is as a conjunction, determiner, adverb, or pronoun. It introduces choices or alternatives, adds to negative statements, or refers to one of two options. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the word "either" is a versatile term used to present alternatives, express agreement or disagreement, and clarify options, as confirmed by Ludwig. It functions as a conjunction, determiner, adverb, or pronoun and is considered grammatically correct. "Either" is very common in News & Media, Formal & Business, and Science contexts, displaying a neutral register that makes it suitable for various writing styles. Remember to pair "either" with "or" when presenting alternatives to avoid grammatical errors. Related phrases like "as well" and "too" can sometimes be used in place of "either", depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as well

Expresses inclusion or agreement, similar to "either" when used to indicate addition to a negative statement.

too

Indicates addition or agreement, comparable to "either" in adding something to a previous statement.

also

Similar to "either" in adding information or indicating inclusion.

in addition

More formal way of adding information, like "either" when used to extend a negative statement.

similarly

Indicates a parallel or comparable situation, related to the additive sense of "either".

likewise

Expresses similarity or agreement, functioning like "either" in certain contexts.

correspondingly

Indicates a parallel relationship, akin to how "either" can link related options.

furthermore

Adds additional information, similar to extending a negative with "either".

moreover

Introduces an additional point, related to the additive function of "either".

on the other hand

Introduces a contrasting alternative, similar to presenting options with "either/or".

FAQs

How to use "either" in a sentence?

"Either" is used to present two alternatives, often paired with "or". For example, "You can have "either tea or coffee"".

What can I say instead of "either"?

Depending on the context, alternatives to "either" include "as well", "too", or using phrases like "in addition" to express agreement or inclusion.

Which is correct, "either...or" or "either...nor"?

The correct pairing is "either...or". "Nor" is used with "neither". So, you would say "either this or that" and "neither this nor that".

What's the difference between "either" and "neither"?

"Either" refers to one of two options, while "neither" refers to none of the two options. "Either" is used in positive contexts to present choices, while "neither" is used in negative contexts to exclude both options.