Distributives in English Grammar: Each, Every

Distributives are words we use to describe how a group of people or things are divided or shared out. Some of the most common distributives in English are each and every. We use them to refer only to three or more things or people.

Rule 1: We use each and every interchangeably in the meaning of all when referring to three or more things or people.

However, there are some differences between these two words.

Each

Rule 2: We use each with singular nouns to focus on separate things in a group or to emphasize individuals within a group. This word often appears with words such as individually, personally, etc.

Rule 3: We usually use each to refer to smaller numbers - like both, it can also be used to refer to two people or things.

Rule 4: We use each of before object pronouns (us, them, etc.) and nouns with determiners (the, a/an, these, etc.).

Every

Rule 5: We use every only with singular nouns to refer to all parts in a group of three or more. In contrast to each, every is used for generalizations and emphasizes all elements within a group.

Rule 6: We use every in front of numbers and ordinal numbers to indicate how often something happens.

Rule 7: We cannot use every of if we want to use every before a pronoun or a determiner, we must use every one of.

Note: We use adverbs such as almost, nearly, practically, single, etc. with every rather than each.