Either

The English word either, and its negative form neither, can be used in various ways.
Uses
Either can be used:
*Together with the word or to make a correlative conjunction, as in either Tom or Anne. In this construction the inclusion of either does not change the meaning, but may serve an emphatic purpose, possibly emphasizing that only one option is possible, or to let the reader or listener know in advance that a list of alternatives will be given. It is not limited to lists of two options.
*As a determiner together with a noun, as in either baby, meaning one or other of two babies.
*As an indefinite pronoun, as in I'll take either, with similar meaning to the above, but with the noun understood rather than specified.
*As an adverb together with an expression of negation, meaning "additionally", as in I don't like it either, meaning "I, also, don't like it". (In some non-standard varieties of English, neither is used here. See double negative.)
Neither can be used:
*Together with the word nor to make a correlative conjunction, parallel to the either...or construction, but with negative meaning (not the first option AND not the second option). When another negative appears, however, either...or is used. Hence I like neither Tom nor Sue, but I don't like either Tom or Sue.
*As a determiner, as in neither baby, meaning not one and not the other of two babies.
*As an indefinite pronoun, as in I like neither (also I don't like either), with similar meaning to the above but with the noun understood rather than specified.
*As an adverb meaning "also not", usually followed by inversion, and used especially in short sentences: neither do I (meaning the same as I don't either).
Pronunciation
Both either and neither have alternative pronunciations: the first syllable can contain the long monophthong as in knee, or the diphthong as in eye. Both forms are found in British as well as American pronunciation. The difference is referenced in the Ira Gershwin song "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off", which opens with the words "You say ee-ther and I say eye-ther", and concerns a couple who lament the strain put on their relationship by pronunciation differences.
The pronunciation of either with , when considered together with the word ether, provides one of the few minimal pairs demonstrating that the difference between the voiced dental fricative and the unvoiced dental fricative is phonemic in English (the only difference in pronunciation between the two words is in the sounds represented by th).
 
< Prev   Next >