gone either

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "gone either" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to express a sense of absence or unavailability, but it lacks context to be properly used. Example: "He has gone either to the store or to the park, but I'm not sure which."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"It could have gone either way".

The New York Times

That call could have gone either way".

The New York Times - Sports

Every game could have gone either way.

The New York Times - Sports

"All the games could've gone either way.

The New York Times - Sports

It might have gone either way.

The Guardian - Sport

The match could have gone either way.

The Guardian - Sport

This match was tight and could have gone either way.

The New York Times - Sports

"The last couple of games could have gone either way.

BBC

"It could have gone either way," he said.

The New York Times - Sports

The outcome of the nomination could have gone either way.

The New Yorker

The Australia game could have gone either way.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While the phrase "gone either" appears frequently, prioritize grammatically correct alternatives such as "could have gone either way" or "might have turned out differently" to ensure clarity and accuracy in your writing.

Common error

Do not use "gone either" as a standalone phrase. Instead, use constructions like "could have gone either way" or "it might have gone differently" to ensure grammatical correctness. Pay attention to the full sentence structure for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "gone either" functions within a broader context to express that an outcome was uncertain and could have resulted in two different possibilities. As Ludwig AI explains, the phrase itself is not grammatically correct, needing the auxiliary verbs to form a complete thought.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "gone either" appears frequently in various sources, it's grammatically incomplete and requires additional context to be correct. Ludwig AI confirms this grammatical issue. The correct usage usually involves phrases like "could have "gone either way"", which indicates an uncertain outcome with two possibilities. This expression is commonly found in news and media contexts and carries a neutral tone. To ensure clear and accurate writing, it is best to avoid "gone either" on its own and use the complete, grammatically sound alternative.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

could have resulted either way

Emphasizes the potential for different outcomes.

might have turned out differently

Focuses on the possibility of an altered conclusion or result.

could have swung in another direction

Highlights the potential shift towards an opposing result.

outcome was equally possible

Indicates that both results were equally likely.

could have just as easily happened

Expresses that an alternative event was equally probable.

was a toss-up

Suggests the outcome was random or unpredictable.

was too close to call

Highlights the difficulty in predicting a specific result.

hung in the balance

Illustrates the precariousness of a situation.

was anyone's game

Indicates that any participant or party could have won.

could have been a different story

Suggests a significant divergence from the actual outcome.

FAQs

How can I correctly use the idea behind the phrase "gone either"?

Instead of "gone either", use the complete phrase "could have "gone either way"" or "might have turned out differently" depending on the context you intend to express.

What does "could have gone either way" mean?

It means that the outcome of a situation was uncertain and could have resulted in two possible outcomes. It implies a balance or a close margin between the possibilities.

Is "gone either" grammatically correct?

No, "gone either" is not grammatically correct as a standalone phrase. The correct phrase is "could have "gone either way"".

Are there formal alternatives to "could have gone either way"?

While "could have "gone either way"" is generally acceptable, more formal alternatives include "the outcome was uncertain" or "the result was equally possible".