Many learners write “either and or” because it feels natural to connect two choices with “and.” You already use “and” to join words and ideas in English all the time, so the instinct makes sense. But “either and or” is not a correct phrase in English. The right construction is either…or, and it works as a connected pair, not three separate words.
After reading this lesson, you will be able to use either…or and neither…nor correctly in everyday conversation and professional writing. You will also know how to choose the right verb form and keep both sides of your sentence balanced. At Your Daily American, our lessons aim to start with how the language is actually used, not just how textbooks describe it. So we start with the mistake itself.
Quick answer: “Either and or” is a common learner error. The correct form is either…or, a two-part correlative conjunction. Drop the “and.” This guide explains why, shows you how to use either…or correctly, and covers subject-verb agreement, parallel structure, and punctuation.
Why “either and or” is not correct English
What either…or actually means
Either…or is a correlative conjunction (a two-part connecting word that works as a pair). Other examples of correlative conjunctions include both…and and not only…but also. When you use either…or, the word “either” signals that a choice is coming, and “or” names the second option. The two parts depend on each other, so replacing “or” with “and” breaks the construction completely.
Here are two clean examples of correct usage:
- Either you call first or you send a text.
- You can pay either by card or in cash.
One quick note: “and/or” is a different phrase with its own meaning. It means “one, the other, or both,” and it appears mostly in contracts and formal documents (see The Chicago Manual of Style for guidance on limiting “and/or” to legal contexts). In everyday writing and speech, use either…or for two-option choices.
Is “either and or” ever correct?
No. The “either and or” construction does not exist in standard American English grammar. It is always an error. The mistake is very common among learners from many language backgrounds. In some languages, the structure that means “one or the other” looks closer to “both…and” in English. Learners transfer that pattern and write “either and or” without realizing the problem. The fix is simple: when you see “either,” the second half always uses “or.”
How to use either…or in real sentences
The basic structure
Place “either” before the first option and “or” before the second. Both sides should be the same grammatical type. This is called parallel structure (meaning both sides match in grammar form), and we cover it fully in section 5. For now, notice how both sides match in these examples:
- She is either tired or hungry. (adjective / adjective)
- You can either email me or call me. (verb phrase / verb phrase)
- We can meet either on Monday or on Friday. (prepositional phrase / prepositional phrase)
- He is either at the office or working from home. (prepositional phrase / participial phrase, close enough to sound natural)
Either…or in casual American conversation
Native speakers use either…or frequently in daily life. The sentences are short and direct. Here are natural examples you would hear in real American conversations:
- “We can either eat here or grab something to go.”
- “I don’t care. Either we see the 7 o’clock show or we go tomorrow.”
- “You can either leave a message or call back later.”
- “Either it’s in your bag or you left it at home.”
Notice the contractions and relaxed tone. In speech, these sentences come out fast. The grammar structure stays the same as in formal writing, but the words around it are casual and comfortable.
For another clear explanation with examples, see Correct Use of Neither, Nor, Either, Or for extra examples and tips.
Either…or in a workplace email
In professional writing, either…or helps you present choices clearly and politely. Here are sentences you would find in real work emails:
- “Please let me know if you are available either Tuesday morning or Thursday afternoon.”
- “You can either submit the report by Friday or request a short extension.”
- “Either the design team approves the concept or we schedule a revision meeting.”
These sentences are direct and easy to understand. Your Daily American’s professional English section has more lessons on writing natural, clear emails, covering everything from opening lines to closing phrases.
Neither…nor: the negative partner of either…or
When to use neither…nor instead
Neither…nor is the negative version of either…or. Use it when both options are not true, not possible, or not wanted. “Neither” replaces “either” and “nor” replaces “or.” Look at the direct contrast:
Either…or (positive choice): Either he knows the answer or he doesn’t.
Neither…nor (both negated): He knows neither the answer nor the question.
One important warning: “nor” cannot be replaced with “or” in a neither…nor sentence. Mixing the pairs, writing “neither…or” or “either…nor”, is one of the most common errors with this grammar. Always keep them together: either…or and neither…nor. For a focused lesson on this exact pair, see Either or Neither? The Simple Rule English Learners Need.
Side-by-side comparison with real examples
The pairs below use the same situation, but one sentence is positive and the other is negative. Reading them together helps you see the difference clearly.
Casual: “Let’s go either to the park or to the mall.” / “She wanted to go neither to the park nor to the mall.”
Workplace: “Either the client approves the proposal or we revise it.” / “The client neither approved the proposal nor responded to our email.”
General: “You can either call me or text me.” / “I can neither call you nor text you right now.”
In each pair, notice that the structure on both sides stays parallel, the same grammatical pattern appears after “either/neither” and after “or/nor.”
Subject-verb agreement: which verb form to use
The proximity rule explained
When either…or or neither…nor connects two subjects (not two verbs or two adjectives), you need to pick the right verb form. The rule is called the proximity rule (proximity = closeness to the verb). Your verb agrees with the subject that is nearest to it. Here are the three cases:
- Both subjects singular: use a singular verb. “Either the manager or the assistant is responsible.”
- Both subjects plural: use a plural verb. “Either the managers or the assistants are responsible.”
- One singular, one plural: match the nearer subject. “Either the manager or the assistants are responsible.”
The same proximity rule applies to neither…nor. It is not a different rule for each pair; the logic is exactly the same.
A practical tip for mixed subjects
When you have one singular and one plural subject, word order matters. Put the plural subject second, closest to the verb, this sounds more natural even though both orders are technically correct. Consider the difference: “Either the assistants or the manager are responsible” sounds awkward because “manager” is singular but the verb is plural. Rewriting it as “Either the manager or the assistants are responsible” removes that friction instantly.
Major style guides support this approach. Both The Chicago Manual of Style and Garner’s Modern American Usage (see Garner’s usage tip) recommend placing the plural subject closer to the verb to improve clarity and readability. For Garner’s recommendation, see Garner’s usage tip on subject-verb agreement.
Keeping both sides parallel
What parallel structure means in this context
Parallel structure means the grammar type on both sides of either…or (or neither…nor) must match. Noun with noun. Verb with verb. Prepositional phrase with prepositional phrase. When the two sides don’t match, the sentence sounds uneven and is harder to follow.
Here is a before-and-after example:
- Weak: “You can either call me or an email would work.” (verb phrase vs. noun clause)
- Strong: “You can either call me or email me.” (verb / verb)
A quick two-step check for your own sentences
Use this check every time you write an either…or or neither…nor sentence. First, find “either” and “or” (or “neither” and “nor”) in the sentence. Second, read the word or phrase right after each one. Are they the same grammar type? If not, fix the second side to match the first.
Try it on these two sentences:
- “She is either going to the gym or a walk.” (verb phrase vs. noun)
- “You can either finish the project today or working on it tomorrow.” (verb vs. gerund)
Fixed versions: “She is either going to the gym or taking a walk.” / “You can either finish the project today or work on it tomorrow.”
Punctuation tips and a quick practice check
When to add a comma (and when not to)
Do not put a comma between “either” and “or” (or between “neither” and “nor”) inside a single clause. A comma belongs before “or” or “nor” only when each side is a complete independent clause, meaning each side has its own subject and verb and could stand alone as a sentence.
- No comma needed: “Either she calls first or she sends a text.” (connected clauses sharing one idea)
- Comma needed: “Either she calls first, or the meeting will start without her.” (two independent clauses)
This comma rule is consistent across major style guides, including The Chicago Manual of Style (17th ed.), APA Publication Manual (7th ed.), and the MLA Handbook (9th ed.). When in doubt, ask yourself: can each side of “or” stand alone as a complete sentence? If yes, add a comma before “or.”
Try it yourself
Here are four short practice items. Fix each one or fill in the blank. Check your answers below.
- Fill in: “_____ the report is ready _____ we push the deadline.” (Use either…or or neither…nor.)
- Fix the verb: “Either the team or the manager are going to present.”
- Fix the parallelism: “You should either call the client or sending an email.”
- Add punctuation if needed: “Either we finalize the budget today or the project goes on hold until next week.”
Answers: 1. Either…or, full sentence: “Either the report is ready or we push the deadline.” (positive choice between two options). 2. “Either the team or the manager is going to present.” (manager is the nearest subject and is singular). 3. “You should either call the client or send an email.” (verb / verb). 4. Yes, a comma is needed: “Either we finalize the budget today, or the project goes on hold until next week.” (Both sides are independent clauses.)
If you’d like more practice and a step-by-step guide with exercises, see Using either, neither, nor, and or in English for additional drills and explanations.
Frequently asked questions about either…or
Is “either and or” ever correct in English?
No. “Either and or” is always an error. The correct correlative conjunction is either…or, two words that function as a pair. Adding “and” between them breaks the construction.
When should I use neither…nor instead of either…or?
Use neither…nor when both options are negative, when neither one is true, available, or wanted. Use either…or when you are presenting two possible choices in a positive or neutral context.
Which verb do I use with either…or when the subjects are different?
Follow the proximity rule: match the verb to the subject closest to it. If the nearest subject is singular, use a singular verb. If it is plural, use a plural verb.
What is the difference between “either of” and “either”?
“Either of” is used before a noun phrase when you mean one from a group of two: “Either of the reports will work.” “Either” alone is used as a determiner directly before a noun: “Either report will work.” Both are correct; “either of” tends to sound slightly more formal.
Four things you can use right away
Here is a quick summary. The correct form is either…or, not “either and or.” Neither…nor is the negative version, used when both options are not true or not wanted. When either…or or neither…nor connects two subjects, the verb agrees with the subject closest to it. Both sides of the construction must also match in grammar form.
These are not just rules for grammar tests. They are tools for clearer writing and more confident speaking in real American situations, from ordering at a counter to writing a professional email. The more you practice them with real sentences, the more natural they become.
Your Daily American has more grammar guides built exactly like this one, using real sentences from daily life and the workplace. If you want to keep building your grammar from rules to real use, explore the Every Day or Everyday? A Simple Grammar Guide or the Which or That? Mastering This Common Grammar Mistake. You can also revisit the focused lesson on correlative pairs at Either or Neither? The Simple Rule English Learners Need.
