would either of you

USAGE SUMMARY

"Would either of you" is a perfectly acceptable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you are asking two people if either of them is willing to do something. For example: "Would either of you be willing to help with the dishes?".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Would either of you — and you'll have two minutes, and President Obama, you have the first go at this one.

The New York Times

Would either of you require federal law-enforcement agencies to record all interrogations of witnesses as well as suspects in felony cases?

The New York Times

Hockstader: Would either of you support removing and relocating the statue of Robert E. Lee in the Old Hall of the Virginia House of Delegates?

The Washington Post

Would either of you be willing to declare that an attack on Israel is an attack on the United States, which of course is the same promise that we give to our close allies like Japan?

The New York Times

Shortly after the two settled into their seats, Representative Greg Walden, Republican of Oregon, brandished a large jar wrapped in yellow crime-scene tape and filled with contaminated cookies and crackers and asked the executives, "Would either of you be willing to take the lid off and eat any of these products?" Clearly shaken, the men demurred and were dismissed a moment later.

The New York Times - Health

Mr. Sterling, Mr. Rothenberg: Would either of you like a blindfold?

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

One of them is Pell grants, and Rahm drops all over him like a ton of schoolmarm: "Why I am shocked at you, David Gregory! Would either of us be here if we didn't go to college?" Gregory is all "Is that a shovel ready job?

Huffington Post

Would either of these changes be allowed?

The New Yorker

Would either of them put their names to Activate?

The Guardian - Opinion

Would either of them want to leave her current gig?

The New Yorker

Would either of their original design concepts have won the competition?

Harvard Business Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "would either of you", ensure the context clearly indicates that you are addressing two specific individuals and seeking a response from at least one of them.

Common error

Avoid using "would either of you" when addressing a group larger than two. This phrase is specifically designed for scenarios involving precisely two people; otherwise, use "would any of you".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "would either of you" functions as an interrogative expression used to politely inquire whether at least one of two specific individuals is willing to perform a particular action. This aligns with Ludwig AI's assessment that the phrase is perfectly acceptable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Science

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "would either of you" serves as a polite and direct way to ask two individuals if at least one of them is willing to do something. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, and it is mostly seen in News & Media contexts. When using this phrase, ensure you are addressing exactly two people, and be mindful of the level of formality required by the situation. For instance, if you need only one person to act, "would one of you" might be a more suitable alternative. Remember to avoid using it for groups larger than two, where "would any of you" becomes the appropriate choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

would either of you be willing to

Adds emphasis on willingness, making the request more polite.

could either of you

Replaces "would" with "could", softening the request and focusing on ability.

are either of you able to

Focuses specifically on the ability of either person to perform an action.

would one of you

Changes the focus to a single individual from the pair, implying that only one needs to respond.

would any of you two

Adds specificity by stating "any of you two" thus referring directly to the group of two.

will either of you

Implies a future action with more certainty than "would".

might either of you

Uses "might" instead of "would", suggesting a lower probability or a more tentative inquiry.

are either of you

Shifts the question to a present state or ongoing condition rather than a hypothetical action.

would both of you

Changes the dynamic to inquire if both individuals are willing, not just either one.

do either of you

Asks about a general habit or ability rather than a specific instance.

FAQs

How to use "would either of you" in a sentence?

Use "would either of you" when you are asking two specific people if they are willing to do something. For example: "Would either of you be willing to help with the project?"

What can I say instead of "would either of you"?

You can use alternatives like "would one of you" if you only need one person to do something or "could either of you" to soften the request.

Which is correct, "would either of you" or "would any of you"?

"Would either of you" is correct when addressing two people. Use "would any of you" when addressing a group larger than two.

What's the difference between "would either of you" and "would both of you"?

"Would either of you" asks if at least one of two people is willing. "Would both of you" asks if both people are willing.