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| adj. Being one of two or more considered individually; every: Each person cast a vote. My technique improved with each lesson. pron. Every one of a group considered individually; each one. adv. For or to each one; apiece: ten cents each. [Middle English ech, from Old English ǣlc; see līk- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] Usage Note: In standard usage, the subject of a sentence beginning with each is grammatically singular, and so the verb and following pronouns must be singular: Each of the apartments has (not have) its (not their) own private entrance (not entrances). When each follows a plural subject, however, the verb and subsequent pronouns remain plural: The apartments each have their own private entrances (not has its own private entrance). When each follows the verb, it has been traditionally considered acceptable to say either The boys have each their own bike or The boys have each his own bike, though both of these (and especially the latter) are likely to seem stilted in comparison to The boys each have their own bike or The boys each have their own bikes. · The expression each and every is likewise followed by a singular verb and singular pronoun: Each and every girl gets (not get) five minutes to talk about her (not their) book report in Ms. Washington's class. This expression is sometimes criticized as redundant, and so it is, but it emphasizes both the universality and individuality of the collection being discussed, much like every single one. See Usage Note at every. |
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