either of the two dates

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "either of the two dates" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to one of two specific dates that have been mentioned or are known to the reader. Example: "You can choose either of the two dates for the meeting, whichever works best for you."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Though he talked about festivities, if Solomon's Christmas wishes come true he won't be in the Jungle for either of the two dates he mentioned.

Vice

30 GPs returned the note, and 10 GPs (six male, four female) accepted participation on either of the two dates suggested in the written invitation, and two GPs (two female) offered participation on a later date.

BMC Family Practice

Subjects were excluded 1) if either of the two dates of data needed to define HT onset were not specified in the data tables (n = 94), 2) if fewer than two blood pressure measurements were done within 1 year of HT onset (n = 269), or 3) if enrollment ended within 1 year of HT onset (i.e., before the beginning of follow-up time for events) (n = 2,241).

Diabetes Care

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

A complete accuracy assessment was performed on classified images of the two dates generated during this study.

Forest Ecosystems

The mean of the two dates is presented.

Environmental Management

We therefore selected the earlier of the two dates as the index date for the 28 day case fatality analysis.

BMC Health Services Research

Where the GP and hospital dates differed for these paired episodes, the first of the two dates was taken.

BMJ Open

Three of the four dates are wrong, including one that is 24 years out.

The Guardian - Sport

In September Rolo Tomassi performed on three out of the four dates of the Japanese touring festival Reverberation Festival.

Wikipedia

Of the thirty one dates, twenty nine were in the US with two in Canada.

Wikipedia

And you can bet we'll do just about anything to make it to one of the three dates.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "either of the two dates", ensure the context clearly establishes which two dates are being referenced to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "either of the two dates" when more than two dates are possible. Use "any of the dates" or "one of the dates" instead to indicate a choice from a larger set.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "either of the two dates" functions as a determiner phrase, specifying a choice between two previously mentioned or understood dates. As Ludwig AI explains, it is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "either of the two dates" is a grammatically correct way to indicate a choice between two specific dates. As noted by Ludwig AI, it's generally acceptable for use, although it's crucial to ensure clarity regarding which two dates are being referenced. While examples are somewhat limited, it appears in both scientific and news contexts, suggesting a neutral register. For clearer or more informal options, consider alternatives like "one of the two dates". Make sure you use "either of the two dates" only when exactly two dates are meant, and these dates are clear from the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

one of the two dates

Replaces "either" with "one", focusing on singularity from the given pair.

any of the two dates

Substitutes "either" with "any", suggesting a broader choice but still limited to two.

whichever of the two dates

Emphasizes selection between the two dates.

one or the other date

Uses a more verbose construction to indicate a choice between two dates.

the first or second date

Specifies the choice by ordinal position.

the former or latter date

Employs "former" and "latter" to refer to the first and second dates, respectively, assuming they have been previously mentioned.

a choice of the two dates

Highlights the option to select from the two available dates.

selecting from the two dates

Focuses on the act of choosing between the two dates.

date A or date B

Presents the two dates as options using labels.

taking your pick of the two dates

Adds an informal tone to the choice between the two dates.

FAQs

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

You can use "either of the two dates" to indicate a choice between two specific dates already mentioned or understood. For example, "You can select "either of the two dates" for your appointment."

What's a simpler way to say "either of the two dates"?

A simpler alternative would be "one of the two dates", which is slightly less formal and conveys the same meaning.

Is it correct to use "either of the two dates" if I haven't mentioned the dates before?

While grammatically correct, it's best to first mention the two dates before using ""either of the two dates"" to avoid confusion. For example, "The meeting can be on July 1st or July 8th. You can choose "either of the two dates"."

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

"Either of the two dates" implies a choice between specifically two dates. "Any of the dates" suggests a selection from a larger, unspecified set of dates.