either after or

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "either after or" is not correct and usable in written English as it is incomplete.
It typically requires a second option to complete the comparison or choice being presented. Example: "You can choose to meet either after lunch or before dinner."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

I recommend if you want to read Katy you should read What Katy Did either after or before.

The Guardian

We used another working memory task (i.e., 2-back task) that was performed either after or during pain induction.

Scandinavian Journal of Pain

In this sentence, the presence of the phrase 'due to' allows us to infer that the temporal relation between TEST event 'Her creatinine' and PROBLEM event 'her worsening liver failure' is either After or Overlap_After.

Database : the journal of biological databases and curation

For many years there have been three stages in the selection of students for UK medical schools: assessment of academic qualifications and further qualities obtained from the UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) application form, usually leading to invitation to interview, and selection for offer (either after or without interview).

BMC Medical Education

A primary (and legitimate) goal of the programs, after all, is to find and identify _un_known, _un_suspected terrorists, either after or, preferably, in advance of an actual attack.

The New Yorker

A primary (and legitimate) goal of the programs, after all, is to find and identify unknown, unsuspected terrorists, either after or, preferably, in advance of an actual attack.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

And the either/or construction is not parallel; put "either" after "died," or delete it.

The New York Times

No statistically significant differences were observed between fish after space flights and ground controls either after 9 or 16 days.

Advances in Space Research

Symptoms were aggravated either after activities or lying flat.

BMC Pulmonary Medicine

The session ended either after 4 h or after 40 min without an earned infusion.

European Journal of Neuroscience

Then, all participants were re-administered the ANT, immediately after either painful stimulation or after acupuncture.

Behavioral and Brain Functions

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure that when using "either", it is paired with "or" to present a clear choice between two options. For example, use "either before or after" instead of just "either after or".

Common error

Avoid using "either" without a corresponding "or". The phrase "either after or" is incomplete and grammatically incorrect; complete the comparison by providing two distinct alternatives.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "either after or" functions as a connector indicating a choice of sequence, but it is grammatically incomplete. As Ludwig AI points out, it requires a second option to create a grammatically correct "either/or" construction. Examples in Ludwig show its use in various contexts, but its incorrect structure undermines its effectiveness.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

43%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "either after or" appears in a variety of sources, including scientific and news media, it's grammatically incorrect due to its incomplete "either/or" construction. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase needs a second option to be grammatically sound. The phrase aims to present a choice in the sequence of events, but its structural issue reduces clarity. For improved writing, use complete constructions like "either before or after" or "either following or" to ensure grammatical correctness and clear communication. Avoid using the incomplete phrase in formal writing to maintain precision and credibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

either following or

This alternative provides a more grammatically correct parallel structure for the 'either/or' construction.

either subsequent to or

This phrase offers a formal and grammatically precise alternative, suitable for academic and technical writing.

either before or after

This alternative reverses the order of events but maintains the same meaning and completes the "either/or" construction.

whether after or

Using "whether" instead of "either" still needs a second choice, but emphasizes conditionality rather than choice.

either during or after

This adds the dimension of simultaneous action, broadening the temporal scope.

after, or

This simplifies the structure by omitting "either", suitable when the choice is implicitly understood.

subsequent to, or

Using "subsequent to" offers a more formal tone, emphasizing sequence.

either simultaneously or after

This alternative is more precise indicating simultaneous actions versus subsequent.

first after, or

Implies a sequence where the first step is 'after' something, with a second unspecified option. Only suitable for specialized context.

both after and

This shifts the meaning to include two actions both occurring after a specific event, losing the 'either/or' choice.

FAQs

How to properly use the phrase "either...or"?

The construction "either...or" presents a choice between two options. Ensure both options are clearly stated and grammatically parallel. For instance, "You can choose "either to stay" or "to leave"" provides two distinct and parallel alternatives.

What are some alternatives to "either after or"?

Alternatives include phrases like "either following or", "either subsequent to or", or "either before or after". These provide a more grammatically complete and clear expression of choice or sequence.

Is "either after or" grammatically correct?

No, the phrase "either after or" is grammatically incomplete. The "either/or" construction requires two distinct and parallel alternatives. Using it incompletely can lead to confusion and is generally considered incorrect in formal writing.

How can I improve clarity when using "either...or" in my writing?

To enhance clarity, ensure that the options presented after "either" and "or" are grammatically similar. For example, use "either with a noun or "with a noun phrase"" to maintain a parallel structure and avoid ambiguity.