either because or

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'either because or' is not correct in written English.
You might use the phrase 'whether because or' instead. For example: I'm not sure whether because of the high cost or the long travel time, I won't be able to attend the conference.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Everything over there exists either because or in spite of them.

Vice

This result implies that a large proportion of patients with COPD will eventually be hospitalised either because or with COPD.

BMC Infectious Diseases

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

One Direction were gearing up for a performance in Detroit Sunday night, and either because of, or in spite of it, people started tweeting about a Detroit Purge.

Vice

Every known visual system depends on movement: we see things either because they move or because our eyes do.

The New York Times

In comparison, teacher C chose students either because they volunteered or because he wanted to challenge specific students.

International Journal of STEM Education

Either because of unfamiliarity or unease, we remain separate from the suffering within our wider communities.

Huffington Post

Design generally begins either because of a need or requirement or, alternatively, because of an idea.

Mechanical Design

Pat Wilks, a department spokeswoman, said the seven centers were chosen either because they were underused or were near other centers.

The New York Times

Many people they see have been struggling since Sept. 11, either because they lost jobs or family members did.

The New York Times

Second, not all published materials are easily accessible (either because of journal subscription or language issues).

Journal of Applied Volcanology

The other 95% of returns are either because of product frustration or buyer's remorse.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "either because or" in formal writing. It is grammatically incorrect. Instead, consider using "either due to or" or rephrasing the sentence for clarity.

Common error

A common mistake is to mix correlative conjunctions. "Either" should be paired with "or", and "because" introduces a reason. Combining them as "either because or" creates a grammatically incorrect structure. Rephrase to maintain grammatical accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "either because or" functions as an attempted correlative conjunction. Ludwig AI highlights its incorrect usage, as "either" should pair directly with "or", not with a causal conjunction like "because". The phrase attempts to introduce alternative reasons but fails grammatically.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "either because or" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in formal writing. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase does not follow standard English grammar rules. While it appears in some online sources, as shown by Ludwig, it's essential to use correct alternatives such as "either due to or" or restructure the sentence for better clarity. The intended purpose, expressing alternative reasons, can be achieved through grammatically sound constructions. The usage is rare, so replacing this incorrect structure will greatly improve the quality of writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

whether because of or

Replaces "either" with "whether", forming a grammatically correct construction to express doubt or choice related to cause and alternatives.

either due to or

Substitutes "because" with "due to", providing a grammatically correct alternative to indicate causality and alternatives.

either as a result of or

Replaces "because" with "as a result of", offering a more formal and grammatically sound way to express causality and alternatives.

due either to or

Changes the sentence structure to start with "due", emphasizing causality and maintaining the expression of alternatives.

either on account of or

Offers "on account of" as a more formal substitute for "because of", maintaining the structure for expressing causality and alternatives.

either owing to or

Presents "owing to" as a substitute for "because", providing a formal tone to express causality with alternatives.

resulting either from or

Uses "resulting from" to highlight the outcome or consequence, maintaining the structure for expressing alternatives.

attributable either to or

Replaces "because" with "attributable to", offering a formal alternative to indicate causality and alternatives.

either through or

Shifts the expression to indicate causality and alternatives through a process or means, instead of a direct cause.

either from or

Uses "from" to indicate the origin or source of causality, presenting an alternative structure that maintains the expression of alternatives.

FAQs

What is the correct way to use "either" when expressing a reason?

When expressing a reason, it's best to avoid using "either because or". Instead, use phrases like "either due to" or "either on account of". For example, "The delay was either due to weather or a mechanical issue".

What can I use instead of "either because or"?

Instead of "either because or", consider using "whether because of". Alternatively, rephrase the sentence to use "either...or" with different clauses. For example, "I'm unsure whether it's because of the cost or the time commitment".

Is the phrase "either because or" grammatically correct?

No, the phrase "either because or" is not grammatically correct. The correct structure involves pairing "either" with "or" to present alternatives, but "because" should introduce a separate clause or be replaced with a suitable alternative such as "due to".

How can I rephrase a sentence that incorrectly uses "either because or"?

To rephrase, identify the two alternatives you want to present and structure the sentence using "either" and "or" correctly. For instance, instead of saying "The event was canceled either because of rain or because of low attendance", you could say "The event was canceled either due to rain or low attendance", or "whether the cancellation was due to" rain or low attendance.