exclude each other

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'exclude each other' is correct and usable in written English.
It is often used to indicate that two (or more) things are mutually exclusive, or cannot exist together. For example, "The two options seem to exclude each other: it will either be a good decision, or a quick decision, but not both."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

These options do not exclude each other.

The Guardian

These modes do not exclude each other, so swimming instructs.

The New Yorker

They exclude each other, and pretend to be friends with each other, as a game.

The Guardian

Being an Arab woman and a modern architect certainly don't exclude each other – when I was growing up in Iraq, there were many women architects.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"So instead of struggling over programs and candidates' capabilities, they are trying to exclude each other — even within the same party or alliance".

The New York Times

But it should take steps, in addition, to speed the growth of the economy's productive capacity: demand-side measures and supply-side measures do not exclude each other.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

7 human-written examples

In contrast, analysis of pairwise species co-occurrence patterns showed that the dominant species Stipa tenacissima and Anthyllis cytisoides shifted from excluding each other to co-occurring with increasing grazing pressure at north-facing slopes.

Journal of Arid Environments

From Plato's discussion of the pain of hunger's correlation with pleasure in eating (Gorgias 495D2-497D7) to contemporary discussions of temperament and mood, it has been argued that the correlations between pleasure and suffering do not support their absolutely or even pro tanto excluding each other, as someone's sitting and standing or something's speed and slowness do.

SEP

For too long we have been excluding each other as neighbours, we have been fearful of each other as neighbours.

Vice

We regard God and the world, the inner and the outer, the home and the public space, as mutually excluding each other.

Huffington Post

Regardless of relocating, it seems as though every city struggles with cultivating an art scene that doesn't consist of the same exact people at the same parties, talking about the same things, excluding each other rather than banding together.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "exclude each other", ensure that the subjects involved are clearly defined and that the context explicitly demonstrates their mutual exclusivity. For example, "These two theories exclude each other because they operate on fundamentally different assumptions."

Common error

Avoid using "exclude each other" when the action isn't genuinely reciprocal. For instance, don't say "The manager excluded the employee each other;" it should be "The manager excluded the employee" or "The employees excluded each other."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "exclude each other" functions as a reciprocal verb phrase, indicating that two or more entities perform the action of excluding upon one another. As confirmed by Ludwig, the usage of the expression is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

48%

News & Media

42%

Encyclopedias

2%

Less common in

Wiki

1%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "exclude each other" is a grammatically sound and frequently used reciprocal verb phrase, signifying that two or more entities mutually prevent or make each other impossible. As per Ludwig AI, its usage is correct. The phrase appears most commonly in science and news contexts. When using "exclude each other", ensure the reciprocity of the action is clear, and that the entities involved are appropriately defined. Alternatives such as "reject one another", "are mutually exclusive", and "are incompatible" can be used depending on the specific nuance required.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are mutually exclusive

Highlights the condition where two or more events cannot occur simultaneously.

rule each other out

Indicates the elimination of options or possibilities.

are incompatible

Focuses on the lack of harmony or ability to coexist effectively.

reject one another

Emphasizes a deliberate act of refusal or non-acceptance between entities.

preclude one another

Stresses the prevention or making impossible of something by another.

clash with each other

Highlights the state where something opposes to another.

contradict one another

Highlights a direct opposition or inconsistency between different statements or actions.

counteract each other

Focuses on actions that diminish or neutralize the effect of another.

invalidate each other

Stresses how some elements can make others void.

negate each other

Highlights the cancellation of value, importance, or effect.

FAQs

How can I use "exclude each other" in a sentence?

You can use "exclude each other" to describe situations where two or more options, ideas, or entities cannot coexist or occur simultaneously. For example: "These two possibilities completely exclude each other."

What does "exclude each other" mean?

"Exclude each other" means that two or more things are mutually incompatible or prevent the occurrence or existence of the other.

Which is correct, "exclude each other" or "excluding each other"?

Both "exclude each other" and "excluding each other" are correct, but they serve different grammatical roles. "Exclude each other" is the base verb form, while "excluding each other" is a gerund or participle, used in continuous tenses or as a noun. For example, 'These options exclude each other' versus 'They are excluding each other from the group'.

What are some alternatives to "exclude each other"?

Alternatives to "exclude each other" include "reject one another", "are mutually exclusive", or "are incompatible", depending on the specific context.