either parents

USAGE SUMMARY

"either parents" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to two possible people when discussing a topic. For example: "Either parents should make sure their children get enough exercise every day."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

40 human-written examples

It is required that either parents or guardians accompany children at all times, except when they are on stage.

The Guardian

Mr. Devor added that he had no political ambitions, and no fear of alienating either parents in the neighborhood or the powers in the Education Department.

The New York Times

"However, what cuts across all of those differences is the fact that we're all human beings, all of us, and we all are either parents or aunts and uncles or grandparents and we all have a responsibility to the future".

The Guardian

"The school didn't have the decency to ask either parents or pupils what we thought about the idea," says the women's petition, whose forms are stacked on the counters of local shops, and getting plenty of signatures.

The Guardian

But the most potentially damaging disclosure is that Brady then failed to inform either parents or the police about Boland's claim about a list of other children Smyth was abusing.

The Guardian

This right is available for employees who have 26 weeks' continuous service with their employer, and are either parents of children under 17 (under 18 if the child is disabled) or carers of adults either within the home or a relative.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

20 human-written examples

The models tested the effect of parental psychopathology in either parent alone and in both parents.

BMC Psychiatry

Parental social class was categorised according to whether either parent reported having a non-manual occupation.

BMJ Open

We defined parental history of diabetes as a report of diabetes in either parent.

Diabetes Care

Parental history of diabetes was defined as a report of diabetes in either parent.

Diabetes Care

From watching them play, they do not need either parent.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "either parents" when you want to indicate that a condition or action applies to one parent or the other, but not necessarily both simultaneously. For example, "Contact "either parents" to confirm attendance."

Common error

Avoid using "either parents" when you mean to refer to both parents collectively. "Either parents" specifies one or the other, whereas "both parents" encompasses both individuals. For example, instead of "Either parents attended the meeting", say "Both parents attended the meeting" if both were present.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "either parents" functions as a determiner phrase specifying that one of the two parents is being referred to or considered, as supported by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

37%

News & Media

34%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "either parents" is a grammatically correct and frequently used term that specifies one of the two parents is being referred to. As noted by Ludwig, it's important to distinguish its usage from "both parents", which refers to both individuals collectively. The phrase is found across various contexts, including News & Media and Science, and maintains a neutral level of formality. When using this phrase, make sure that you are really intending to refer to only one of the two parents because other alternatives could be more appropriate in many cases.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

one parent or the other

Emphasizes the individual selection of one parent from the two.

one of the parents

Highlights that only one parent is being considered from the pair.

a parent, if not both

Suggests the possibility of one parent being involved, with a chance of both.

at least one parent

Focuses on the minimum requirement of one parent's involvement.

one or both parents

Explicitly states the option of one or both parents being involved.

a single parent

Narrows down the focus to instances of only one parent being involved.

each parent separately

Indicates that parents are considered individually.

either the mother or the father

Specifies the gendered roles of the parents.

parental figures

Broadens the scope to include individuals acting in a parental role.

guardians or parents

Expands to include legal guardians in addition to parents.

FAQs

How can I use "either parents" in a sentence?

Use "either parents" to indicate that one parent or the other is involved in a specific situation. For instance, ""Either parents" must sign the consent form for the child to participate."

What is an alternative to saying "either parents"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "one parent or the other", "at least one parent", or "one of the parents".

Is it correct to say "either parent" instead of "either parents"?

While "either parent" is grammatically correct, "either parents" is used when referring to situations where the action or condition applies to one parent or the other, acknowledging both parents as a unit from which one is selected. Using "either parent" might imply singling out a specific parent from the outset.

What's the difference between "either parents" and "both parents"?

"Either parents" indicates that one of the two parents is involved, whereas "both parents" means that both parents are involved together. For example, ""Either parents" can attend the meeting" suggests that only one needs to be present, while "Both parents must attend the meeting" requires both to be there.