either of the two

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "either of the two" is perfectly correct and usable in written English.
It is commonly used when you want to refer to a choice between two separate entities. For example, "We can go to either of the two restaurants down the street."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Do either of the two circles in the middle look bigger?

The Guardian

Otherwise, classify either of the two octahedral geometries.

Journal of Cheminformatics

For any τ above (tau_{c}), either of the two selective equilibria is unstable.

The Journal of Mathematical Neuroscience

Either of the two possible sources for martian methane would be noteworthy.

Science Magazine

I'm not either of the two.

Huffington Post

Either of the two could be eliminated with a loss.

Los Angeles Times

More people attend Old Firm matches than buy either of the two national broadsheet newspapers combined.

Vice

The chance of an upset in either of the two fights is slight.

The New York Times - Sports

Gives Carter's views on running with either of the two possible Republican nominees.

The New Yorker

He said he had little hope for either of the two properties.

The New York Times

To get into imagination itself what we mean by either of the two terms is impossible.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "either of the two" when presenting a binary choice. This makes it clear that only one of the options is applicable or possible.

Common error

Avoid using "either of the two" when there are more than two options. In such cases, use "any of the options" or "any of the choices" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "either of the two" functions as a determiner phrase specifying a choice between two distinct options. Ludwig examples confirm its role in setting up a binary selection.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "either of the two" serves as a determiner phrase used to indicate a choice between two options. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and common in written English. It appears most frequently in news and media and scientific contexts and maintains a generally neutral to formal register. While alternative phrases like "any of the two" or "one or the other of the two" exist, "either of the two" precisely sets up a binary selection. When crafting your content, remember to avoid using this phrase when there are more than two possibilities.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

either one of the two

This phrase is a slightly more emphatic version of the original, highlighting individual selection.

any of the two

This alternative broadens the scope to include all possibilities within the two options.

one or the other of the two

This phrase emphasizes the selection of one option out of the two available.

one or other of the two

A less common, slightly more formal variation expressing choice.

any one of the two

Emphasizes the possibility of selecting any single option from the pair.

one of the two

This alternative is slightly less specific, focusing on the fact that there's a selection of one within a pair.

the one or the other

A more emphatic phrasing suggesting a clear choice must be made.

either alternative

This option simplifies the phrasing by directly referring to the options as alternatives.

each of the two

Highlights that both options are considered individually, often in sequence.

whichever of the two

This suggests a choice based on a specific condition or preference.

FAQs

How do I use "either of the two" in a sentence?

Use "either of the two" to indicate a choice between two distinct options. For example, "You can select "either of the two" payment methods."

What's the difference between "either of the two" and "both of the two"?

"Either of the two" implies a selection of one option out of two, whereas "both of the two" means selecting or considering both options simultaneously.

Which is correct, "either of the two" or "either one of the two"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but "either of the two" is more concise. "Either one of the two" emphasizes the individual selection but is slightly more verbose.

What can I say instead of "either of the two"?

Alternatives include "any of the two", "one or the other of the two", or simply "one of the two", depending on the specific context.