must either be

USAGE SUMMARY

"must either be" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to indicate that someone has the option to choose between two things. For example: The new hire must either be a college graduate or have five years of relevant work experience.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

You must either be in government or in opposition.

The Guardian

If he goes anywhere, it must either be by National Express coach or easyJet.

The Guardian - Film

Tomorrow she must either be sent home to her White City flat, or be resectioned.

The Guardian

In South Carolina, religious day care centers must either be state licensed or registered.

The New York Times

Both services require internal wiring that must either be fished through the walls or the baseboard.

The New York Times - Tech

"He must either be an expert at multitasking or Bento's halftime talk was mighty short".

The Guardian - Sport

The debt must either be written off (defaulted on) or slowly inflated away.

The Economist

The money must either be spent or committed by July 17.

The New York Times

Students must either be supported entirely by UROP funds or entirely by sponsored research.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The file itself must either be burned to a CD or mounted as a virtual CD on your hard drive.

The New York Times - Tech

The diet must either be free of protein or contain small amounts of high-quality protein to lessen tissue breakdown.

Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "must either be" to clearly present two mutually exclusive options or conditions, ensuring clarity and precision in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "must either be" when a simple conditional statement would suffice. "Must either be" implies a strict choice between two defined states, not a potential outcome.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "must either be" functions as a connector indicating necessity combined with a choice between two alternatives. It sets up a binary condition where one of two options is required, reflecting a mandatory selection between two possibilities. This usage is affirmed by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Academia

33%

Science

15%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "must either be" is a versatile phrase used to express a necessary choice between two options. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usability. Predominantly found in news, academic, and scientific contexts, this phrase is useful for presenting clear, mutually exclusive conditions. When writing, remember to use "must either be" when specifying a required choice between two distinct alternatives, and avoid using it where a simple conditional statement would suffice. Consider alternatives like "has to either be" or "needs to either be" to adjust the tone. This thorough analysis provides a solid understanding of how to effectively incorporate "must either be" in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has to either be

Replaces "must" with "has to", maintaining the sense of obligation but with a slightly less formal tone.

needs to either be

Substitutes "must" with "needs to", indicating a requirement that is perhaps less strict or urgent.

is required to either be

Replaces "must" with "is required to", making the phrase more formal and explicit.

is obliged to either be

Similar to "is required to", but with a stronger emphasis on obligation.

should either be

Replaces "must" with "should", softening the force of the obligation to a recommendation.

can either be

Shifts the emphasis from obligation to possibility, indicating that there are options available.

may either be

Similar to "can either be", but with a slightly more formal tone.

is able to either be

Indicates the capacity or ability to choose between two options.

can alternatively be

Focuses on the alternative nature of the options, omitting the sense of necessity.

it is essential that it either be

Emphasizes the importance of the choice between the alternatives by adding "it is essential that".

FAQs

How do I use "must either be" in a sentence?

Use "must either be" to present two unavoidable options or states. For example: "The file "must either be" burned to a CD or mounted as a virtual CD on your hard drive."

What can I say instead of "must either be"?

Alternatives include "has to either be", "needs to either be", or "is required to either be", depending on the level of formality and emphasis required.

When is it appropriate to use "must either be"?

It's appropriate when something absolutely needs to fall into one of two distinct categories or conditions, leaving no other possibility.

Is "must either be" formal or informal?

The phrase "must either be" is generally neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, though alternatives like "has to either be" might be slightly less formal.