each two / every two

Only the second version is correct.

Thanks for the prompt reply. Can you tell me why - other than it sounds better?

I'm dealing with a document that uses the formulation "each two employees" throughout, and I want to change it to "every two employees," but it would be good to have a reason other than it sounds better, if there is one.

Bluestocking
One parking space is required for each 2 employees. OR

One parking space is provided for every 2 employees.

Both correct?

Hi Bluestocking,

Welcome to the forum. Grammatically, the first sentence is not wrong but the context paints a confusing picture because of the verb “provided” which to me is the

I didn't even notice the required/provided part . Which word you use here changes the meaning completely.

Thanks, Goodman. It did help, but I see I complicated the question unnecessarily. (I didn't even notice I used "required" in one example and "provided" in another.) The actual usage is in a chart of parking spaces required by law for various types of businesses.

In every case, the writer used the word each to describe the number of persons or things that share a singl

Well, that's actually a fine point too, isn't it? If the point is that the parking spaces are required by law, it would come to the same thing... one space being required (by law) for every two employees. [or each two if this writer has his way]... or one space being provided (because it's required by law) for every two employees.

I am glad I could help! I completely agree. When it comes to a matter of rules and regulations, the language and the words are extremely sensitive to the legality of the concerned matters. That’s the reason I went to the extra length for the explanation.

Thanks, again. I'm just sorry you guys couldn't quote me a rule that will make me feel comfortable about changing all these usages to "every" which we three agree sounds better!! Attorneys (at least a lot of the ones I've come across in the US) are not necessarily good grammarians. This particular writer was so unrelentingly consistent using "each" that I know it wasn't just sloppiness. If I

BluestockingWell, that's actually a fine point too, isn't it? If the point is that the parking spaces are required by law, it would come to the same thing... one space being required (by law) for every two employees. [or each two if this writer has his way]... or one space being provided (because it's required by law) for every two employees.

Wel

GoodmanWell, generally speaking, parking space is not really required by law.

Local ordinances often require that a certain number of parking spaces be provided if a particular business wishes to locate in town.