In each one's confidence

Question

I am confused by the following sentence.
In #1, should the phrase "in each othe's confidence" be deleted?

Which is acceptable, (1) or (2) ?

(1) Gradually, from good friends in each other's confidence, we became personal enemies.

(2) Gradually, from good friends, we became personal enemies.

Avangi · Accepted Answer

contiluo(1) Gradually, from good friends in each other's confidence, we became personal enemies.
(2) Gradually, from good friends, we became personal enemies.Both are correct.

Are you confused about the usage of "to be taken into someone's confidence"?

Perhaps a comma in the first one, after "friends," would make more sense.
I hear "in each other's confidence" as an appositive, and not really as a defining phrase.
This is not to say that being in each other's confidence might not be a characteristic of a particular friendship.
But it's possible for good friends to have secrets from each other.

I suppose in this case the confidence, or confidentiality, gradually slipped away with the friendship.

What if you said, "Gradually, from good friends with a shared goal, we became bitter ememies."

This one seems a little less like an appositive.

Would you still feel uncomfortable with this one?

In each one's confidence

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