Have you ever found yourself grappling with the seemingly interchangeable use of “each” and “every”? These two words may seem innocuous at first glance, but understanding their subtle differences can make a world of difference in your writing.
“Each” emphasizes individuality and refers to all items in a group individually, while “every” emphasizes inclusivity and refers to all items collectively as a whole.
Each vs. Every
| Each | Every |
|---|---|
| Each is used to refer to individual items or members within a group. It emphasizes the distinctness of each item and implies consideration of them one by one. | Every is used to refer to all members of a group collectively. It emphasizes the inclusivity of the entire group as a whole, without singling out individual items. |
| It is typically used with singular nouns and emphasizes the singularity of each item or member within the group. | It is used with both singular and plural nouns and refers to all members of the group without distinction between them. |
| Each emphasizes individuality and suggests focusing on the unique qualities or attributes of each item separately. It highlights the separate identities of the items in the group. | Every emphasizes the completeness and totality of the group. It suggests equal consideration or distribution of something among all members of the group. |
| It is used when considering items separately and specifically, often in contexts where the focus is on individual characteristics, actions, or comparisons. | It is used when the focus is on the collective or overall inclusivity of all the members of the group, without distinction. It often indicates that something applies universally to each member. |
| Each student received a book as a prize for their outstanding performance. (Individual focus on each student) | Every student in the class received a certificate for their hard work. (Collective focus on all students) |
| It is used with plural nouns, each emphasizes that the same action applies to each individual item within the group. | It treats all the items in the group as a collective unit, indicating a universal application of the action to the entire group. |
Definition of Each and Every
“Each” and “every” are determiners in the English language used to indicate individual items in a group or set. While they share similarities, they are employed differently in terms of quantity and distribution. “Each” emphasizes individuality, treating the items as separate entities, and refers to every member of the group individually. It suggests a focus on individual items or occurrences.
While “every” emphasizes inclusivity, treating the items as a collective whole, and refers to all members of the group together without individual distinction. The choice between “each” and “every” depends on the context and the specific emphasis the speaker or writer intends to convey when describing the group or set of items.
The rules for using “Each” and “Every”
Using “each” and “every” correctly is essential for conveying precise meanings in English. Both are determiners used to refer to individual items in a group or set. The main difference lies in the emphasis they provide. “Each” is used when we want to highlight the individuality of each item or member in the group, treating them as separate entities.
While “every” emphasizes inclusivity and treats all items collectively as a whole group without individual distinction. It’s important to note that both “each” and “every” are used with singular nouns and have a distributive meaning, indicating the distribution of something to each or every member of the group. A proper understanding of these rules ensures accurate usage and effective communication in written and spoken English.
Examples of Each and Every in sentences
Examples of each:
Each of the students received a prize.
We need to take each opportunity that comes our way.
I have a friend in each city that I visit.
Examples of every:
Every student in the class got an A on the test.
Every day, I walk to work.
I brush my teeth every morning.
When to use “Each Other” or “One Another”
“Each other” and “one another” are both pronouns that refer to two or more people. They can be used interchangeably in most cases.
However, there is a subtle difference in usage between the two. “Each other” is typically used when referring to two people, while “one another” is used when referring to more than two people.
For example, you might say “John and Mary love each other” to describe the relationship between two people. Alternatively, you might say “The students help one another” to describe how a group of students interact with each other.
In general, it is considered more polite to use “one another” when speaking about a group of people. However, there are no hard and fast rules about which pronoun to use – it ultimately comes down to personal preference.
Common mistakes people make with “Each” and “Every”
When you use “each,” you are referring to every individual item in a group separately. For example, “Each student must submit their essay by Friday.” This means that every student must submit their own individual essay by Friday.
On the other hand, when you use “every,” you are referring to the entire group collectively. For example, “Every student must submit their essay by Friday.” This means that all of the students must submit their essays by Friday.
Keep in mind that “each” is always followed by a singular noun, while “every” is always followed by a plural noun. Additionally, “each” can be used as both a pronoun and an adjective, but “every” can only be used as an adjective.
If you keep these simple rules in mind, you will never make a mistake when using “each” and “every” again!
Key differences between Each and Every
- “Each” is often used when discussing individual items, occurrences, or actions that are considered separately. While “Every” is commonly used when discussing generalizations or universal statements that apply to all items or members in a group.
- “Each” can be placed at the beginning or in the middle of a sentence and is often followed by a singular noun. “Every” is typically used at the beginning of a sentence, followed by a singular noun.
- “Each” is more commonly used when focusing on specific details or when individuality is important. “Every” is more frequently used when discussing overall inclusivity and when no individual distinction is required.
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Conclusion
These two words may seem to be interchangeable, but they have very different meanings which can affect the meaning of your sentence. “each” emphasizes the individuality of each item or member, treating them separately, and “every” highlights inclusivity, referring to all items collectively as a whole group without individual distinction. The choice between “each” and “every” depends on the context and the specific emphasis required.
