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Maj Posted 21 years ago
Grammar

One another/ each other

Could someone possibly point out the difference in usage? Thanks in advance.
  

Top answer

Hello I'm an English learner from Japan. Could you let me answer to your question [I'm sure any kind native English speaker who is moderating this forum would come to correct it if I make any mistake in the answer]. If you have two persons or things, you would say about each of them the way like: "one, and the other".

— Paco2004

  • Hello I'm an English learner from Japan.
  • Could you let me answer to your question [I'm sure any kind native English speaker who is moderating this forum would come to correct it if I make any mistake in the answer].
  • If you have two persons or things, you would say about each of them the way like: "one, and the other".
  • If you have five (for example) persons or things, you would say the way like: "one, another, another, another, and the other".
  • So it was an old rule in English that you have to say "each other" for two persons/things and "one another" for three or more persons/things.
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4 Answers
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Hello

I'm an English learner from Japan. Could you let me answer to your question [I'm sure any kind native English speaker who is moderating this forum would come to correct it if I make any mistake in the answer].

If you have two persons or things, you would say about each of them the way like: "one, and the other". If you have five (for example) persons or things, you would
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I am fascinated by your question regarding the use of "one another" and "each other." I think I will learn something useful from the other posts which answer your question. I've always thought that "one another" is more formal and "each other" is more relaxed. I also think (not sure of this) that "one another" refers to more than two people whereas "each other" refers to two people?

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In addition,

This rule (if it is one) should be applied circumspectly. It's quite possible for the exchange of books within a book club, for example, to be between individuals, making "each other" just as appropriate as "one another."

Source: http://www.ccc.comment.ed
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"It is helpful in life, to love one another, and that includes learning to love those who differ with us and who differ from us."

Thank you all guys for your help. These examples are most enlightening!
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