Grammar - Does "either" imply a choice between only two?

Subject: Grammar - Does "either" imply a choice between only two?
From: Peter Neilson <neilson -at- windstream -dot- net>
To: TECHWR-L <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Date: Mon, 14 Jun 2010 08:26:30 -0400

I have always felt it incorrect to say, for example, "either of the
following eight items" and prefer instead "any one of the following
eight items." Poking gently about on the internet I've not been able to
find any support for my preference.

Does "either" contain an implied dual number? Or am I right, but being
unnecessarily fussy? Or am I simply wrong?
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Gain access to everything you need to create and publish documentation,
manuals, and other information through multiple channels. Choose
authoring (and import) as well as virtually any output you may need.
http://www.doctohelp.com/

---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as archive -at- web -dot- techwr-l -dot- com -dot-

To unsubscribe send a blank email to
techwr-l-unsubscribe -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
or visit http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/options/techwr-l/archive%40web.techwr-l.com


To subscribe, send a blank email to techwr-l-join -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com

Send administrative questions to admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot- Visit
http://www.techwr-l.com/ for more resources and info.

Please move off-topic discussions to the Chat list, at:
http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/listinfo/techwr-l-chat


Follow-Ups:

Previous by Author: Re: Captivate video pricing
Next by Author: Re: Text-to-Voice software?
Previous by Thread: Re: Resolved: Technical communicators can create information
Next by Thread: RE: Grammar - Does "either" imply a choice between only two?


What this post helpful? Share it with friends and colleagues:


Sponsored Ads