opt for either

USAGE SUMMARY

"opt for either" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when presenting a choice between two options. Example: "You can opt for either coffee or tea." Alternative expressions include "choose between" and "select one of."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

Voters can "opt for either of two models," Mr. Kirchner said this week.

The New York Times

Russian travellers meanwhile tend to opt for either north Africa or Thailand as destinations, but the Arab spring and the flooding in Thailand have hit the company's recently acquired Russian business.

The Guardian - Business

Depending on the time of day, you could opt for either – a bowl of French onion soup is £6 – and Lowry's here in spirit, as a life-size bronze statue sitting at the bar.

Independent

You can opt for either three or five meals a week and start and stop them as needed.

TechCrunch

Some women choose the standard of care, while others may opt for either more or less than the current standard of treatment.

Huffington Post

By then, India controlled about two-fifths of Kashmir and repeated its earlier promise that, once normal conditions returned to the disturbed province, a plebiscite would be held in all of Kashmir in which its inhabitants could opt for either India or Pakistan.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

Over half of the young people who voted in Britain last year opted for either Labour or the Green party.

The Guardian - Opinion

All entrees arrived with a mountain of rice unless diners opted for either crisp French fries or tasty grilled vegetables, a mix of charred eggplant, zucchini, peppers, mushrooms, onion and tomato.

The New York Times

Some 25% voted for scientific organizations, while less than 10% opted for either national governments or the EU.

Science Magazine

When asked "what should be taught in science?", over one fifth (21%) of participants indicated a preference for evolution only, with 8% opting for either creationism or ID only, while over two thirds of respondents (68%) said they thought a "range of theories" should be taught in science (Fig. 1).

Evolution: Education and Outreach

Every time they opted for either reward, the time it took to earn additional phone time or additional food increased.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To enhance clarity, follow "opt for either" with a clear enumeration of the two options, such as "You can "opt for either" A or B."

Common error

Avoid using "opt for either" when more than one option can be selected. "Opt for either" implies a mutually exclusive choice between two possibilities.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "opt for either" serves as a verb phrase indicating the act of choosing between two specified options. It introduces a binary choice, as seen in the Ludwig examples where individuals or entities select one of two presented alternatives. Ludwig AI confirms the grammatical correctness and usability of this phrase.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

31%

Wiki

19%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

2%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "opt for either" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase that clearly presents a binary choice. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely accepted and appropriate in various contexts, including news, science, and general writing. While alternatives like "choose either" and "select either" exist, "opt for either" maintains its own distinct utility, especially when a more formal tone is desired. When employing this phrase, ensure the context provides two mutually exclusive options to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

choose either

Replaces "opt for" with the more common verb "choose", maintaining the same meaning.

select either

Substitutes "opt for" with "select", emphasizing a deliberate choice.

decide on either

Replaces "opt for" with "decide on", focusing on the decision-making process.

go with either

Uses the more informal "go with" in place of "opt for", suggesting a preference or decision.

pick either

Offers a simpler and more casual alternative to "opt for".

make a choice between

Expands the phrase to explicitly state the act of choosing between alternatives.

take either

Suggests accepting one of two available options.

adopt either

Implies choosing to implement or follow one of two possible courses of action.

settle on either

Suggests making a final decision after considering the options.

employ either

Replaces "opt for" with "employ", referring to use one of two strategies.

FAQs

How can I use "opt for either" in a sentence?

The phrase "opt for either" is used to indicate a choice between two options. For example, "You can "opt for either" the red shirt or the blue one".

What is a formal alternative to "opt for either"?

In more formal contexts, consider using phrases like "select either" or "choose either".

Is it correct to say "opt for either one"?

While grammatically sound, "opt for either one" can be redundant. "Opt for either" already implies choosing one of two options.

What's the difference between "opt for either" and "opt to"?

"Opt for either" presents a choice between two specific things, while "opt to" indicates a choice to do something in general. For example, "opt for either tea or coffee" versus "opt to exercise regularly".