either both these

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "either both these" is not correct in standard written English.
It is likely intended to express a choice between two options, but the construction is awkward and unclear. Example: "You can choose either both these options or none at all."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Thus, both the melanisation pathway and the anti-Plasmodium response are primed, suggesting that either both these pathways are used in attempts to clear V.culicis, or that V.culicis infection leads to a general priming of the entire immune system.

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

(One might have thought it obvious that either both of these acts are completely outrageous, or neither of them is).

The Guardian

P. roqueforti was found polymorphic for the presence of Wallaby and CheesyTer, with all tested strains carrying either both of these regions or neither of them (Table S3).

Current Biology

It could have arrived in the Lake District by either or both these means".

The Guardian

But whether either or both these lines are made, it appears certain that American shipping and not European will be the gainer.

The Economist

Mean ages were 58 ± 12 years for patients without diabetes and CKD, and 66 ± 10 years for patients with either or both these pathologies (P < 0.001).

BMC Health Services Research

A lacto-ovo vegetarian diet excludes all meat, poultry, and fish, but permits eggs and dairy products, as well as foods containing either or both these.

WikiHow

Anyway, if you missed either of these, both are well worth catching up on.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

These data suggest that either, or both, of these residues could interact with other parts of the channel protein to slow deactivation rates in WT hERG.

Plosone

That system depends on heterodimeric bridges made up of Ds and Ft molecules; these bridges cannot form without either or both of these proteins.

eLife

Job b has TS = 10, and job d has TS = 30; either or both of these jobs could be delayed by these amounts of time without delaying the project.

Harvard Business Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "either both these". Instead, opt for grammatically correct alternatives such as "either of these" or "both of these", depending on your intended meaning.

Common error

A common mistake is to use "either both these" when intending to express a choice between two options or the inclusion of both. Ensure you clarify whether you mean a selection from the options ("either of these") or the combination of them ("both of these").

Linguistic Context

The phrase "either both these" functions incorrectly as a connector or determiner, attempting to express a combination of choice and inclusion. As Ludwig AI indicates, this phrase is not standard English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "either both these" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in standard English. As Ludwig AI clarifies, it attempts to combine the concepts of choice ("either") and inclusion ("both") in a way that is confusing and non-standard. Instead, opt for alternatives like "either of these" when indicating a selection, or "both of these" when referring to the inclusion of both options. While a few examples exist, primarily in Science and News & Media contexts, its infrequent use and grammatical issues make it unsuitable for formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

either of these

Corrects the grammatical error by using "of", indicating a choice between two options.

both of these

Focuses on the inclusion of both options, removing the element of choice.

one or both of these

Specifies that either a single option or both options can be chosen.

either one of these

Clarifies that only one of the options can be selected.

whether one or both of these

Introduces uncertainty regarding the selection of one or both options.

any of these

Expands the selection to include more than two possibilities.

either this or that

Uses a classic "either/or" structure to present two explicit choices.

each of these

Highlights individual consideration of each option.

this or that

Simplified version of 'either this or that', presenting two options.

any or all of these

Expresses the possibility of choosing some, all, or none of the options.

FAQs

What's grammatically wrong with "either both these"?

The phrase "either both these" is grammatically incorrect because "either" implies a choice between two options, while "both" suggests the inclusion of two options simultaneously. The combination creates a confusing and non-standard construction.

When should I use "either of these" instead of "both of these"?

Use "either of these" when you want to indicate a choice between two options, meaning only one can be selected. Use "both of these" when you want to refer to the inclusion or consideration of two options together.

Are there contexts where "either both these" might be acceptable?

No, "either both these" is not considered standard English in any formal context. It's best to avoid this phrase and use grammatically correct alternatives such as "either of these" or "both of these".

What are some formal alternatives to "either of these"?

Formal alternatives to "either of these" include "one of these options", "either one of these", or specifying the options directly (e.g., "either option A or option B").