either was or

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "either was or" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when presenting two possibilities or alternatives regarding a past situation or state. Example: "The event either was or was not well attended, depending on the weather."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

One either was or was not a citizen.

The New York Times

Did you know that up to 80percentt of the dust in your bedroom either was or still is alive, and is a major source of allergies?

Huffington Post

Necrotic-fibrinous pneumonia was diagnosed, which either was or was not associated with pleurisy and pericarditis.

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Maintenance therapy may consist of an agent that either was or was not present in the induction regimen.

BMC Cancer

Proposed vignette responses (Tables 4 & 5) constituted advice that either was or was not in line with the best available evidence.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

At the end of the report, the racial information either was or wasn't retracted.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

It either is, or it isn't.

The New York Times

You either are or you aren't.

The New York Times

It either is, or it is not.

The Guardian

You either are or you're not".

Wikipedia

Morphemes can either be free or bound.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "either was or", ensure that the options presented are mutually exclusive to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "either was or" when the options are not truly distinct or can overlap. For example, instead of saying "The movie either was long or interesting", consider that it could be both. Use "and" or rephrase to reflect the potential overlap.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "either was or" functions as a correlative conjunction, presenting two possibilities. The Ludwig AI analysis supports this usage, confirming it's a valid grammatical structure used to introduce alternatives. Examples show it connecting different states or conditions.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "either was or" is a grammatically correct conjunction phrase used to present two alternative possibilities or states in the past. While relatively rare in occurrence, it appears in a range of contexts, particularly in news and media, science, and wiki articles. According to Ludwig, the phrase follows standard grammatical rules and is suitable for expressing uncertainty or alternative scenarios. When using this phrase, ensure the options are mutually exclusive for clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was either in or

Changes the word order to focus on location.

was either a or

Replaces "was or" with "was a or" to specify a type or condition.

either had or

Uses "had" instead of "was" to indicate possession or experience.

either could or

Employs "could" instead of "was" to express possibility.

whether it was or

Adds "whether it" for emphasis on the conditional nature.

it might have been or

Replaces with "might have been" to express possibility or uncertainty.

was arguably or

Inserts "arguably" to introduce a debatable point.

was hypothetically or

Adds "hypothetically" to indicate a theoretical scenario.

potentially it was or

Changes the structure, leading with 'potentially' to show a possibility.

it seemed to be or

Replaces with "seemed to be" to express an appearance or impression.

FAQs

How can I use "either was or" in a sentence?

Use "either was or" to present two alternative possibilities or states that existed in the past. For example, "The concert either was a success or a complete failure, depending on ticket sales".

What alternatives can I use instead of "either was or"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "may have been", "could have been", or "it is possible that".

Is it correct to say "either was or"?

Yes, the phrase "either was or" is grammatically correct and commonly used to present two mutually exclusive options regarding a past state or event. Ludwig confirms that this phrase is correct.

What is the difference between "either was or" and "neither was nor"?

"Either was or" indicates that one of two options is true, while "neither was nor" indicates that both options are false. For example, "The play either was funny or boring" versus "The play neither was funny nor boring; it was simply mediocre".