either of

USAGE SUMMARY

"either of" is correct and is commonly used in written English.
For example, you could say: "Either of these options will work for me."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Do either of you believe in ghosts?

The Guardian - Film

Either of which would be fine.

The New York Times - Sports

But will either of them get built?

The Economist

Either of them could be the werewolf.

The New Yorker

(Not that he needed either, of course).

The New York Times

Either of you," she whispered.

Huffington Post

Either of the towers.

WikiHow

Do either of you want kids?

WikiHow

Do either of you want pets?

WikiHow

Not for either of them.

The New York Times - Sports

Have either of you ever been there?

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "either of" when you want to clearly indicate a choice between two specific options. For example, "Either of these solutions will solve the problem."

Common error

Avoid using a singular verb with "either of" when referring to plural nouns. Instead of saying "Either of the books is good", say "Either of the books are good" or rephrase to "Either book is good".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "either of" functions as a determiner phrase. It specifies one out of two options or possibilities. This is supported by Ludwig AI, which identifies the phrase as grammatically correct and common in written English. As shown in the examples, it is always followed by a plural noun or pronoun.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

20%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Science

10%

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "either of" is a versatile and grammatically sound way to express a choice between two options. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and widespread usage across diverse contexts. It's essential to use a plural noun after the phrase and avoid common errors like singular verb agreement. As showcased by Ludwig's examples, authoritative sources like "The New York Times" and "The Guardian" frequently employ it, solidifying its acceptance in formal and informal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

one or the other

Expresses the choice between two options in a more explicit and slightly more formal way.

one of the two

Focuses on selecting a single item from a pair, similar to "either of" but more descriptive.

any of the two

Emphasizes that the choice is unrestricted between the two options.

whichever of the two

Highlights the indifference in selecting one from the alternatives.

each of the two

Shifts the focus to considering both options individually, rather than choosing between them.

a selection between two

Focuses on the selection process between two options.

each alternative

Discusses the different options one at a time instead of choosing one.

both alternatives

Implies considering two options without specifying a need to choose between them.

any one

Implies selecting one option from many without specifying the amount of alternatives.

one among them

Refers to the action of choosing one specific option from a group.

FAQs

How do you use "either of" in a sentence?

Use "either of" to indicate that one of two options is possible or correct. For example, "Either of us can help you with that."

What is the difference between "either of" and "neither of"?

"Either of" means one of two, while "neither of" means not one or the other. For example, "Either of you can go," versus "Neither of you can go."

Can "either of" be used with more than two options?

No, "either of" is specifically used when referring to two options. If there are more than two, use "any of" instead.

What are some alternatives to "either of"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "one or the other", "any one of", or simply rephrase the sentence to be more direct.