either of whom

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'either of whom' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to refer to two people in a sentence, like this: I was introduced to two people, either of whom could help me with my problem.

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

Candidates interested in a thesis or project must initiate the process by selecting first and second readers (either of whom may or may not be the academic adviser) appropriate to the topic who are willing and able to work with the student.

Yale University

Gerald Ford & Ronald Reagan (either of whom would be almost certain to lose in Nov ., reject both in favor of a "new face"...and adopt a broadly based moderate platform, then the exchange in political style & policy between the two parties would be complete.

The New Yorker

A TV-guidance unit fitted onto a bomb is locked onto the target by an aircraft and then transmits continuous pictures of the target either to a computer in the bomb or to the aircraft crew, either of whom can guide the bomb directly onto its target.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Despite Sheridan Smith and Dougie Henshall, either of whom would normally have been enough.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Robert Taylor and Vivien Leigh — either of whom could be the subject of a future Jackson/Gest tribute album — dance to it below.

The New Yorker

Below is a classic skit about family trees from 1965, starring Julie Andrews and Gene Kelly, either of whom may well be related to the candidates.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

Not everyone was pleased with the presence of Orthodox Jews, either, many of whom were managers and rabbis at the plant.

The New York Times - Magazine

"I consider the Democrats very fortunate in having two highly qualified candidates to choose from," he said, "either one of whom would make an excellent county executive".

The New York Times

And if defenses didn't have enough to worry about, Piedmont likes to play two quarterbacks at once, either one of whom can receive the snap.

The New York Times - Sports

But it won't be giving up on business users, either — many of whom had the worst experience with Windows 8, finding it installed on their machines and disliking it.

Independent

Mr. Mo, born in Beijing, had never met either grandfather, both of whom had lived in southern China; he had not even known of their deaths, or the circumstances.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "either of whom" when you want to clearly indicate a choice between two individuals who have already been mentioned.

Common error

Avoid using "either of whom" when referring to more than two individuals. For more than two, use "any of whom" or "each of whom" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "either of whom" functions as a prepositional phrase introducing a relative clause. It specifies that one of two previously mentioned individuals could fulfill a particular role or condition. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

15%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Science

5%

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "either of whom" is a grammatically sound and relatively common construction used to indicate a choice between two previously mentioned individuals. According to Ludwig, its usage is considered correct. Predominantly found in news and media, as well as academic contexts, it maintains a neutral to formal register. When writing, ensure you're referring to exactly two people and, for scenarios involving more than two, consider alternatives like "any of whom". By following these guidelines, you can effectively incorporate "either of whom" into your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

any of whom

Replaces "either" with "any", broadening the scope to more than two people.

any one of whom

Similar to "any of whom" but emphasizes the individual selection from a group.

each of whom

Focuses on individual consideration within a group.

whichever of them

Indicates a selection without specifying individuals.

any person of whom

More formal and emphasizes individuality more than generality.

one of those who

Less direct, referring to a quality or characteristic.

either one from those who

Emphasizes the selection process from a defined group.

each and every one who

Highlights inclusivity of every member in the group.

anyone from the group who

Specifies that anyone from a particular group can be chosen.

anyone of the people who

Refers to people with a defined set of conditions. Broader context than original phrase.

FAQs

How to use "either of whom" in a sentence?

"Either of whom" is used to refer to one of two people previously mentioned. For example, "I spoke to John and Mary, "either of whom" could help you."

What's the difference between "either of whom" and "either of which"?

"Either of whom" refers to people, while "either of which" refers to things. Use "either of whom" when people are the subject.

Can I use "either of whom" when referring to more than two people?

No, "either of whom" is exclusively for two people. For more than two, use "any of whom" or alternatives like "each of whom".

What can I say instead of "either of whom" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider alternatives like "any one of whom" or rephrase the sentence to avoid the need for the phrase altogether.