English Grammar

Each and every - differences

Each is used to talk about two or more people or things; every is used to talk about three or more.

• She had a child holding onto each hand. (NOT … every hand.)

We prefer each when we are thinking of people or things separately. We prefer every when we are thinking of people or things together.

• Each boy in the class was given a present. (= one at a time)
• Every boy in the class went on a picnic. (= all the boys or the whole class)

Every, but not each, can be used with abstract nouns.

• You have every reason to be happy. (NOT You have each reason to be happy.)

Similarly every can be used with numbers.

• Buses leave every ten minutes. (NOT … each ten minutes.)

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