Each, Every, All, Both, Either, and Neither: Determiners with Precision

Determiners seem small, but they change whether we view people and things individually, collectively or as alternatives.

1. Each vs every

Each focuses on members one by one; every presents all members of a group as a complete set. Both normally take a singular countable noun: Each student has a profile. Every lesson includes practice.

2. All

All works with plural countable nouns and uncountable nouns: all students, all information. With a pronoun or a noun containing a determiner, use all of: all of them, all of the lessons.

3. Both

Both means the two together: Both tutors are available. It takes plural agreement.

4. Either and neither

Either means one or the other of two; neither means not one and not the other. In formal writing, singular agreement is traditional after either of and neither of, although plural agreement is common in speech.

5. Common contrasts

Every student is correct, but every students is not. All students is plural. Each of the students uses of because a determiner follows.

Practice

1. Choose: Each/All learner receives feedback.
2. Complete: ___ of the two options is acceptable.
3. Write one sentence with all of and one with both.

Key takeaway

Ask whether you mean individuals, a whole group, both members, one of two, or neither of two.

Determiners shape the reader’s viewpoint

Compare Each participant received feedback with All participants received feedback. The factual situation may be identical, but each highlights individual distribution while all presents the group collectively. This difference becomes useful in instructions, policies and data commentary where the writer must control how a group is conceptualised.