which either are

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "which either are" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used in contexts where you are referring to two or more options or conditions, but the structure is awkward and unclear. Example: "The options available are those which either are feasible or impractical."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

Diseased larvae, which either are unable to spin cocoons or else spin them loosely, die without pupating.

Britannica

The system will be Commissioning Consortia which either are the same as or are supported by the PCT clusters (renamed, no doubt).

The Guardian

Hackney Cyclists have noted that the first runs through "parks which either aren't open (Clissold park) or don't feel safe at night (Hackney Downs)".

The Guardian

War is a phenomenon which occurs only between political communities, defined as those entities which either are states or intend to become states (in order to allow for civil war).

SEP

Thus, the LoD3 volume and boundary surface geometry may contain elements which either are not part of the building's thermal hull (e.g. roof overhang) or hit generalization assumptions of the used physical building model (e.g. constant thickness of thermal boundary, 1D energy transmission through a thermal boundary).

Open Geospatial Data, Software and Standards

Gene products: these are the proteins and certain of the RNA species, specifically the microRNAs, manufactured in the cell and which either are incorporated into the cellular structure or used by the system.

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

Which either is or is not a vindication of love.

The New York Times - Books

Which either is or isn't something he wanted.

The New York Times - Arts

The middle region then is determinate, and consequently any body which either is in it, or might be in it, is determinate.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

It is not an emotion with which either is commonly associated, but Morgan and Freud are entitled to feel a little hurt.

The Guardian

The area is at its bleakest in the north, most of which either is sterile rocky desert or has a sparse cover of hardy grasses.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When constructing sentences with alternative options, prioritize clarity by using the construction "which are either" or restructuring the sentence to avoid the awkward phrasing of "which either are".

Common error

Avoid placing "either" directly after "which" or "that" as it disrupts the flow and clarity of the sentence. Instead, ensure that "either" precedes the options being presented: “which are either… or…”

Linguistic Context

The phrase "which either are" functions as part of a relative clause, attempting to introduce alternative possibilities or conditions. However, it disrupts the flow of the sentence and is grammatically incorrect, according to Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

20%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "which either are" is grammatically incorrect and rarely used in standard English writing. As noted by Ludwig AI, it is better to use alternatives such as "which are either" or rephrase the sentence for clarity. This construction attempts to introduce alternative options, but it disrupts sentence flow. While it appears across various contexts, from scientific to general writing, prioritizing grammatically sound alternatives will improve the clarity and correctness of your writing. Correct phrasing enhances readability and ensures your message is accurately conveyed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

which are either

Corrects the word order for better readability and grammatical structure.

that are either

Replaces "which" with "that" and restructures the sentence for better grammatical flow.

that either are

Swaps "which" with "that", and maintains similar semantic meaning.

that can be either

Replaces "which either are" with a more common and grammatically correct phrase.

which may be either

Uses "may be either" to express possibility or choice.

that fall into either

Focuses on categorization and inclusion within specific options.

which happen to be either

Adds emphasis on the accidental or coincidental nature of the options.

that could possibly be either

Introduces a sense of possibility, with an uncertainty of the options.

that might actually be either

Highlights the potential surprising nature of the choice.

which should preferably be either

Expresses a preference for one of the two possibilities. The sentence structure and the word 'preferably' change the tone of the expression.

FAQs

How can I rephrase a sentence that uses "which either are"?

You can replace "which either are" with phrases like "which are either", "that are either", or "that can be either" for improved clarity.

What is the correct grammatical structure when presenting two options?

The correct structure is to use "either" before the options, such as "either A or B." For example, "The results "are either positive" or negative."

Is it better to use "which" or "that" in similar constructions?

In most cases, "that" is preferred for restrictive clauses (essential to the sentence's meaning), while "which" is used for non-restrictive clauses (adds extra information). However, in this case, both require a different sentence structure to be grammatically correct.

Are there situations where "which either are" might be acceptable?

While the phrase is grammatically questionable, it might appear in informal speech or writing. However, it is advisable to use a more standard construction in formal contexts. Always prioritize phrases like "which are either" for greater readability.