either friends

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "either friends" is not correct and usable in written English as it is incomplete.
It can be used in contexts where you are presenting a choice between two options, but it typically requires additional context or a noun to clarify what is being referred to. Example: "You can choose either friends or family to accompany you on the trip."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

41 human-written examples

Things are either good or not good, people are either friends or enemies.

The New York Times - Sports

They are all "either friends or fans of everyone's work," said Bhabha, who initially suggested the show to Greenberg Rohatyn.

The New York Times

Change the default Everyone setting to either Friends or Friends of Friends, then click the Done button below it.

The New York Times

You're either friends with your neighbours or you're stuck with them, so you help out when it's needed.

The Guardian - Opinion

With A through E already spoken for, F could be either friends or foes, depending upon which group a company is most likely to encounter on the Web.

The New York Times

Both the nominating and the compensation committees of the board included either friends of Mr. Grasso or directors with links to him.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

19 human-written examples

As I soon discovered, gravity could be either friend or foe.

The New York Times

With Maxim's defeat, Juste escapes the collapsing castle alone and curses his inability to save either friend.

Wikipedia

Meet several birds in person, either friend's pets or pet store birds.

WikiHow

There is always the possibility of developing attachment on either friend's part.

WikiHow

If you already did this, it's either friend zone or you're on her weirdo list.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always complete the phrase with a contrasting alternative to make the intended comparison or choice clear. For example, use "either friends or family" instead of just "either friends".

Common error

Avoid using "either friends" without specifying the other option in the comparison. This omission leads to grammatically incorrect sentences and unclear meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "either friends" functions as part of a compound structure expressing a choice between two or more options. The completeness of the phrase is critical for conveying a clear meaning. Ludwig AI confirms that additional context is typically needed.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Wiki

18%

Science

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "either friends" is grammatically incomplete and requires an accompanying "or" phrase to present a clear choice. Ludwig AI confirms this incompleteness, noting the necessity of additional context. While the phrase appears across various source types like news, science and wiki, it's crucial to always complete the comparison to avoid ambiguity. Remember to avoid this grammatical error for clear communication and consider alternatives like ""either friends or family"".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

either family or friends

Expands the choice to include family, providing a more common contrast.

either allies or friends

Presents a choice between allies and friends, useful in strategic or political contexts.

either companions

Replaces "friends" with a more general term for companions, suitable in broader contexts.

either colleagues or friends

Offers a choice in a professional environment.

either acquaintances

Specifies a more distant relationship than friends, changing the nuance of the choice.

friends or acquaintances

Reverse the order and adds the second option, that introduces more formality

between friends

This option requires more text but it sounds more natural

among friends

This option requires more context and text, and refers to something happening with a group of friends

either close friends

Specifies a particular type of friendship.

either casual friends

Introduces a distinction of friendly bond in a more descriptive way

FAQs

How to correctly use "either" with "friends" in a sentence?

Ensure you provide a clear alternative. For example, "You can choose "either friends or family" to come with you."

What does it mean when someone says "either friends"?

The phrase is incomplete without a contrasting option. It suggests a choice involving friends, but the other option is missing. You can correctly add something like "either friends or enemies".

Is it grammatically correct to say only "either friends"?

No, it's grammatically incorrect. The word "either" requires a contrasting "or" statement. It needs to be something like "either friends or colleagues".

What can I say instead of "either friends" to express a choice?

You could say "friends or acquaintances" or "close friends or casual friends" to present a clearer choice, but remember that they should be complete to be grammaticaly correct.