Use every to talk about all members of a group as a whole, generalising (every student passed the exam). Use each to talk about individual members of a group considered one by one, emphasising them separately (each student received individual feedback).
The Core Difference
“Every” treats a group as a collective whole and is often used for generalisations, routines, or things true across the board: every morning, every single time, every employee must attend.
“Each” treats members of a group individually, one at a time, and is often used when distinguishing or distributing something separately to every single member: each student was given a folder, each of us has different needs.
- group as a whole, general → every: every day, every customer
- individually, one by one → each: each employee signed the form, each of them
Every and Each in Context
Every employee received the same training video.
Each employee was interviewed separately about the incident.
She checks her email every morning before breakfast.
Each of the three finalists gave a five-minute presentation.
Every ticket was checked at the door, and each guest was given a name tag individually.
Common Mistakes
| Incorrect | Correct | Why |
|---|---|---|
| ✗ each day, she goes for a run (general routine, both work, but “every” is more typical) | ✓ every day, she goes for a run | general, habitual statement about all days |
| ✗ every one of them was interviewed one at a time | ✓ each one of them was interviewed one at a time | emphasis on individual, separate treatment |
| ✗ each student in the school must wear a uniform (general rule) | ✓ every student in the school must wear a uniform | general rule applying to the whole group |
| ✗ every of the three books was signed individually | ✓ each of the three books was signed individually | “each of” is the correct structure, not “every of” |
| ✗ each two hours, the machine checks itself | ✓ every two hours, the machine checks itself | fixed time interval expression uses “every” |
EVERY = the Entire group, all together, like a wide-angle photo of the whole crowd. EACH = one at a time, like zooming in on one face after another until you've seen them individually.
Related Questions
- Every vs Each — full confusing-words comparison page with additional examples and exercises.
- All Confusing Words — browse all 300+ word-pair guides.
- All Questions — more quick-answer pages.
- Grammar Quiz — test your knowledge of confusing word pairs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core difference between every and each?
“Every” refers to all members of a group considered together as a whole, often for general statements. “Each” refers to individual members of a group considered one at a time, often emphasising separate or distinct treatment.
Is every of them correct?
No — “every” is not used with “of” before a pronoun; the correct structure is “each of them” or simply “every one of them”. “Every of them” is not standard English.
Can each be used with just two items?
Yes — “each” works naturally with as few as two items (each hand, each of the two options), while “every” more commonly implies a larger, generalised group, though it can technically be used with two items as well.
Is every two hours a fixed time expression?
Yes — expressions describing regular intervals use “every”, not “each”: every two hours, every other day, every few minutes. This is a fixed pattern for describing repeated frequency.
Do every and each take a singular or plural verb?
Both take a singular verb, even though they refer to multiple items: “Every student has a locker”, “Each student has a locker” — never “have” in either case, since both treat the group members individually or as one collective.
Is each of us grammatically correct?
Yes — “each of us/you/them” is a standard, correct structure, always followed by a singular verb: “Each of us has our own opinion.” “Every of us” is not correct; use “every one of us” instead.
Can every be used without a following noun?
Rarely on its own — “every” typically needs a noun (every day, every person) or appears in the fixed phrase “every one” (meaning each single one): “Every one of the cakes sold out.”
Is each other different from every other?
Yes — “each other” is a reciprocal pronoun meaning mutual action between two or more people (they helped each other), while “every other” describes alternating occurrence (every other day = every second day).
Which word emphasises individual attention more strongly?
“Each” more strongly emphasises individual, separate attention or distribution (each guest received a personalised gift), while “every” emphasises completeness and generality across the whole group (every guest was welcomed warmly).
Is this distinction tested in grammar exams?
Yes — correctly choosing between “every” (general, whole group) and “each” (individual, one by one), along with correct verb agreement, is a common grammar point tested in school and international exams like Cambridge and IELTS.