Difference Between “Each other” and “One another”
Aspect | Each Other | One Another |
---|---|---|
Traditional Use | Used to refer to a reciprocal relationship or action between two subjects. | Used for more than two subjects to indicate a reciprocal relationship or action. |
Modern Use | Often used interchangeably with ‘one another’ regardless of the number of subjects. | Also used interchangeably with ‘each other’, not strictly adhering to the number of subjects. |
Example with Two Subjects | ‘John and Mary helped each other.’ | Now commonly accepted: ‘The two friends trusted one another.’ |
Example with More Than Two Subjects | Less commonly used but acceptable in modern English: ‘The team members encouraged each other.’ | ‘The community members supported one another during the crisis.’ |
Usage in Formal Writing | In formal writing, traditionally preferred for actions involving two parties. | In formal writing, might be chosen for actions involving more than two parties to maintain traditional distinction. |
Usage in Informal Writing | In informal writing, used freely without strict adherence to the number of parties involved. | In informal contexts, the distinction is less observed, and ‘one another’ is used similarly to ‘each other’. |
“Each other” vs “One another” | What is the Difference?
“Each other” and “one another” are both used to indicate a reciprocal relationship or action between two or more subjects. “Each other” is used for two subjects while “one another” is used for more than two.
In modern English, this distinction is often not strictly followed, and both phrases are commonly used interchangeably regardless of the number of subjects involved.