either alternative

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "either alternative" is not correct in standard English usage.
It is typically used incorrectly because "either" implies a choice between two options, while "alternative" suggests a different option, making the phrase redundant. Example: "You can choose either alternative, but make sure to consider the consequences of each."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

After all, either alternative would limit losses without additional cost.

The New York Times

Either alternative would result in a disastrous civil war.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Either alternative yields similarly weak county effects, while leaving the effects of other predictors almost unchanged.

Energy, Sustainability and Society

Either alternative will get the monkey the same reward, as long as he is fast and accurate.

eLife

Our study suggests that acupuncture is most frequently used in combination with other either alternative or conventional treatment options.

BMC Health Services Research

And either alternative could further inflame the streets in Cairo and around Egypt.

The New York Times

Democrats, in particular, who even consider either alternative need to ask themselves what on earth they think they're doing.

The New York Times

Even though the initial cost of a gas turbine is less than either alternative for moderately sized units, its inherent efficiency is also lower.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Whether either alternative comes to fruition will depend on the ability of each camp to raise the estimated $100 million in public and private funds needed.

The New York Times

A new state policy will require all public school teachers to have either alternative or traditional certification by September 2003 -- a mandate that Mr. Levy has hinted will be impossible to meet because of a worsening teacher shortage.

The New York Times

Brouwer would not accept, for example, the disjunction that either there occur 10 successive 7's somewhere in the decimal expansion of π or else not, since no proof is known of either alternative, but he would accept it if applied, for instance, to the first 10100 digits of the decimal, since these could in principle actually be computed.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "either alternative" in formal writing. Replace it with more precise phrases like "either option" or "one of the alternatives" to maintain grammatical accuracy.

Common error

Using "either alternative" is often redundant because "either" already implies a choice between two options. Saying "either option" is more concise and correct.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "either alternative" functions as a determiner followed by a noun, aiming to indicate a selection between two possibilities. However, as Ludwig AI points out, it's often considered grammatically incorrect due to the redundancy of "either" already implying a choice.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

49%

News & Media

22%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "either alternative" is commonly used, it is generally considered grammatically incorrect due to redundancy. Ludwig AI confirms this assessment. It's best to opt for clearer and more accurate alternatives such as ""either option"" or ""one of the alternatives"", especially in formal writing. Despite its frequent occurrence across various contexts, including science and news, the grammatical inaccuracy impacts its overall quality. Always strive for precision and clarity in your writing by avoiding this redundant phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

either option

Replaces 'alternative' with 'option' for conciseness and grammatical correctness.

either choice

Substitutes 'alternative' with 'choice', emphasizing the act of selecting between two things.

one of the alternatives

More grammatically correct and emphasizes selection from a set of possibilities.

one of the options

Clear and direct replacement; focuses on selection from available choices.

either of the two

Highlights that only two specific possibilities are under consideration.

each of the two

Shifts focus to individually considering two items.

one or the other

Emphasizes the mutual exclusivity of the two choices.

any of the two

Focuses on the freedom to pick any selection among the two

the one or the other

A more emphatic way to mention about the mutual exclusivity of the two choices

the first or the second

Specifies the position of the choices in a sentence

FAQs

What's wrong with the phrase "either alternative"?

The phrase "either alternative" is grammatically incorrect. "Either" already indicates a choice between two options, making "alternative" redundant. Use "either option" instead.

What can I say instead of "either alternative"?

Better alternatives to "either alternative" include "either option", "either choice", or "one of the alternatives". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it acceptable to use "either alternative" in informal conversation?

While "either alternative" is frequently used, it's technically incorrect. In informal conversation, it might be understood, but it's always better to use a grammatically correct phrase like "either option" for clarity.

Which is more appropriate: "either alternative" or "either option"?

"Either option" is the correct and more appropriate choice. "Either alternative" is considered redundant and grammatically flawed.