'each other' or 'one another'

[kitten]

Hi,

 

Not sure if this is best here or in the Writer's forum??

 

Generally I use 'each other' or 'one another' (hopefully correctly!) based on which 'sounds' right to me in the context. e.g. 'they loved one another' sounds correct to me but 'they loved each other' doesn't.

 

Is there an easy to remember rule that would be more reliable than merely what sounds right to me?

 

Thanks.

 

Kit

[sat8997]

Use 'each other' when referring to two people or things.

 

Use 'one another' when referring to more than two people or things.

[MikeL]

Kit,

 

I don't know of any rule. Sharon may be correct, although any implied number agreement is not obvious.

 

You might want to pose your question to the BBC at http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learning...ish/index.shtml. I bet their answer won't be a "sounds right" response.

[kitten]

Use 'each other' when referring to two people or things.

 

Use 'one another' when referring to more than two people or things.

 

Thanks, Sharon!

 

That's certainly an easy rule to remember, and when I think about it, it's very reasonable. So I guess I should have been able to work it out for myself.

I guess it's just another example of something which seems difficult to understand until someone explains it, and then it seems so obvious!

 

Kit

[sat8997]

I don't know of any rule. Sharon may be correct...

 

Well...you know...like, usually like I just sort of...like make this stuff up as I like go along. You know?

 

 

 

 

You're welcome Kit.

[TalonRider]

Use 'each other' when referring to two people or things.

 

Use 'one another' when referring to more than two people or things.

 

 

Thanks, Sharon!

 

That's certainly an easy rule to remember, and when I think about it, it's very reasonable. So I guess I should have been able to work it out for myself.

I guess it's just another example of something which seems difficult to understand until someone explains it, and then it seems so obvious!

 

Kit

All sounds good to me. And it may depend on what's happening at the time.

[MikeL]

Well...you know...like, usually like I just sort of...like make this stuff up as I like go along. You know?

Oh? OK. I thought maybe like you knew what you were talking about.