should be either

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "should be either" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when presenting options or alternatives in a statement, indicating that something must fall into one of two categories. Example: "The final decision should be either to proceed with the project or to postpone it until further notice."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"I don't see why there should be, either.

The Guardian - Tech

should be either repaid or refinanced on ordinary commercial terms.

The New York Times

On television, a politician should be either a talk show host or a televangelist.

The New York Times

The final effect should be either too much or far too much.

The New York Times

Really, she assures me, it should be either the beach or the book.

The Guardian - Books

A SOMALI proverb says that a woman should be either married or in her grave.

The New York Times

That should be either "Each side accuses the other" or "Both sides accuse each other".

Independent

Chestnuts contain a large quantity of tannic acid, and they should be either roasted or boiled first.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

When the law got in the way of prosecutors, the law should be either revised or overlooked.

The New Yorker

If we must establish an arbitrary pension age, it should be either fifty or ninety, but not seventy.

The New Yorker

Simons did not shrink from the obvious conclusion: "Every industry should be either effectively competitive or socialized".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "should be either", ensure that the two options presented are clearly distinct and mutually exclusive to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "should be either" when the options are not mutually exclusive or when there are more than two viable options. This can lead to confusion and misinterpretation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "should be either" functions as a connector indicating a choice between two possibilities. It introduces a binary set of options, suggesting that one of them is the appropriate or expected outcome. Ludwig confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

31%

Science

36%

Wiki

21%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "should be either" is a versatile construction used to present a choice between two options, as validated by Ludwig. It's common in diverse contexts, including news, science, and general writing. While grammatically correct, it's crucial to ensure the options are mutually exclusive to maintain clarity. Remember to use it to show the two options the subject should take. Keep in mind that 'must be either' suggests stronger requirements.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

must be one of

Replaces "should be either" to express a requirement of belonging to one of the specified options.

has to be either

Similar to "must be one of", emphasizes obligation or necessity.

must be one or the other

Highlights the mutually exclusive nature of the choices.

needs to be one of

Indicates a need for selection from a set of options.

is required to be either

More formal way to state that something must be one of two options.

is expected to be either

Suggests an anticipation or expectation that something will fall into one of the two categories.

can only be one of

Emphasizes that only one choice is permissible.

is limited to being either

Similar to "can only be one of", but with a stronger emphasis on restriction.

is confined to being either

Suggests that the choice is narrowly limited to two options.

must exclusively be

Emphasizes the exclusive selection from two options.

FAQs

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

Use "should be either" to present two options, indicating that one of them is required or expected. For example, "The payment should be either cash or credit card".

What's a more formal way to say "should be either"?

A more formal alternative could be "is required to be either". For instance, instead of "The response should be either yes or no", you could say, "The response is required to be either yes or no".

Can I use "should be either" with more than two options?

While grammatically correct, using "should be either" with more than two options can be confusing. It's better to rephrase the sentence to use "should be one of" or list all possible options explicitly. Example: "The color "should be either" red, blue or green" should be rewritten as "The color should be red, blue, or green".

Is there a difference between "should be either" and "must be either"?

"Should be either" suggests a recommendation or expectation, while "must be either" implies a stricter requirement or obligation. The choice depends on the context and the level of necessity you want to convey.