Personal peeve

[nq:1]I am extremely irritated by the use of 'either' when 'each' would be better. E.g. "There is a pillar either side of the gate" This usage removes the sense of choice from 'either'.[/nq]
It does leave a choice of pronunciation of 'either': 'ee-' or 'eye-'.

Slightly more seriously: the sentence leaves me wondering whether there is only only pillar - either one side or the other.

I think it is a regional thing in the US, going back to when I was little. I don't know if it regional, or among certain groups and I don't known what the groups would be.
s/ meirman
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Town NW of Pittsburgh Pa. 0 to 10 years
Indianapolis 7 years
Chicago 6 years

[nq:1]I am extremely irritated by the use of 'either' when 'each' would be better.[/nq]
I deeply sympathize. However, the usage is entirely standard:

http://www.askoxford.com/concise oed/either?view=uk (See "determiner")

[nq:2]It does leave a choice of pronunciation of 'either': 'ee-' ... one side or the other. I too find it irritating.[/nq]
[nq:1]I think it is a regional thing in the US, going back to when I was little. I don't know if it regional, or among certain groups and I don't known what the groups would be.[/nq]
It's my impression that it's pretty widespread, if perhaps patchy. I use it fairly oft

Sorry to double up, but it occurred to me shortly after hitting "Send" that I would rarely use "either" with a singular, an aspect of the example I'd completely overlooked. I'm pretty sure I'd say "There are pillars on either side of the gate" rather than the sentence in question. I don't imagine this will make Mike and Peter any less peevish on the issue, but nonetheless it may be relevant to oth

[nq:1]I am extremely irritated by the use of 'either' when 'each' would be better. E.g. "There is a pillar either ... sense of choice from 'either'. It should be: "There is a pillar each side of the gate". Wot say? Mike[/nq]
Od is right, absolutely. Used with a preposition beffore 'either'.
s/ meirman
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[nq:2]I think it is a regional thing in the US, ... groups and I don't known what the groups would be.[/nq]
[nq:1]It's my impression that it's pretty widespread, if perhaps patchy. I use it fairly often myself, but always with a ... from or call for emphasis over equivalency or parallelism; the example of the pillars could go either way.[/nq]
I accept your use of the preposition 'on' with

Thanks for the references
In my usage of 'either' it implies a choice.
'You can have either the chocolate cake or the lemon pie. One or the other'
As far as I can think it is the only word expressing a choice (of two items only).
Mike

Just went for a stroll, Bob.
Mike

M.J.Powell

[nq:1]Sorry to double up, but it occurred to me shortly after hitting "Send" that I would rarely use "either" with ... Mike and Peter any less peevish on the issue, but nonetheless it may be relevant to others' choice of word.[/nq]
Dunno. It seems to me that the plural would mean more than one pillar on each side. I read the expression fairly literally: whichever side of the gate you pick, you