either course of action

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "either course of action" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing two possible options or decisions that can be taken in a situation. Example: "You can choose either course of action, but consider the potential consequences of each."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Mr. Xie sees no popular consent for either course of action.

The New York Times

Now the guidelines say Mr. Mosbacher will consider the potential disruption "likely to be caused by either course of action". A change of heart - or a verbal fix?

The New York Times

"With no indications from the president that he's inclined to either course of action, his "public support... has now plummeted.

Huffington Post

The city council is scheduled to meet on Aug. 7 and may decide to adopt the measure without putting it to a vote, put it on the ballot or call for a study before taking either course of action.

Huffington Post

Under either course of action, we strongly support WHO and UNICEF joint statements promoting early postnatal home visits as a complementary strategy to improve coverage of care and newborn survival [ 12].

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Either course of action would have made me feel better, and made him feel much worse.

The New York Times - Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Prabhakara defended the thesis that words primarily mean either some course of action (karya) or things connected with action.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In the last paragraph, summarize your points and clearly outline either your planned course of action or what you expect from the recipient.

WikiHow

Interestingly, these revelations confirm complaints that political appointees and senior officials tend to cherry-pick intelligence to justify a pre-determined course of action, again either for political reasons or personal gain.

Huffington Post

It doesn't matter – he would have taken the same course of action either way.

The Guardian - Film

Reckless misconduct differs from negligence, according to the authors, in that negligence consists of mere inadvertence, lack of skillfulness or failure to take precautions; reckless misconduct, on the other hand, involves a choice or adoption of a course of action either with knowledge of the danger or with knowledge of facts which would disclose this danger to a reasonable man.

Harvard University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "either course of action" when you want to emphasize that there are specifically two options available and that a decision must be made between them.

Common error

Avoid using "either course of action" when more than two options are present. "Any course of action" or "a suitable course of action" are more appropriate when there are multiple possibilities.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "either course of action" functions as a noun phrase, often serving as the object of a verb or preposition. It highlights the presence of two distinct choices and is used to discuss the implications or considerations of selecting one of the two options. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

29%

Encyclopedias

14%

Less common in

Wiki

14%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "either course of action" is a grammatically correct and usable expression, typically employed when discussing two specific alternatives. Ludwig AI confirms this. While not exceedingly common, it appears in reputable sources like The New York Times, Forbes, and The Guardian. It is important to distinguish its use from scenarios with more than two options, where "any course of action" would be more appropriate. Alternatives include phrases like "either option" or "alternative approach", offering subtle variations in emphasis. This phrase functions neutrally across a variety of registers, from news media to scientific discussions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

either option

A shorter, more direct way of saying "either course of action".

either alternative

Focuses on the available choices, emphasizing that there are two options.

alternative approach

Focuses on the method rather than the decision-making process.

alternative plan

Implies a contingency or backup strategy.

another option

Simpler and more direct, lacks the formal tone.

other avenue

Implies a way to obtain or achieve something.

alternate route

Specifically refers to a path or direction, not a general decision.

different tack

Implies a change in strategy or approach.

any other recourse

Suggests a last resort when other methods have failed.

any other possibility

Broader in scope, not necessarily related to a specific action.

FAQs

How to use "either course of action" in a sentence?

The phrase "either course of action" is used to present a choice between two options. For example, "You can choose "either course of action", but you must decide soon".

What can I say instead of "either course of action"?

Alternatives include "either alternative", "either option", or "alternative approach" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "either course of action" or "any course of action"?

"Either course of action" is correct when referring to two specific options. "Any course of action" is appropriate when referring to multiple possible actions or when the number of options is not limited.

What's the difference between "either course of action" and "a course of action"?

"Either course of action" implies a choice between two specific options, while "a course of action" refers to one possibility among many. Use "a course of action" when the options are not limited to two.