Each and every - VisualESL.com

Each and every are similar in meaning. It is often possible to use both each or every.

• Each time (or every time) I see you, you look different.
• There's a telephone in each room (or every room) of the house.

But each and every are not exactly the same. Read below to see:

We use each when we think of things separately, one by one.

• Study each sentence carefully. (= study the sentences one by one)

Each is more usual for a small number:

• There were four books on the table. Each book was a different colour.

• (in a card game) At the beginning of the game, each player has three cards.

We use every when we think of things as a group. The meaning is similar to all.

• Every sentence must have a subject. (= all sentences in general)

Every is more usual for a large number:

• Carol loves reading. She has read every book in the library. (= all the books)

• I would like to visit every country in the world. (= all the countries)

Important: each (but not every) can be used for two things:

• In a football match, each team has 11 players. (not "every team")

We use every (not each) to say how often something happens:

• "How often do you go shopping?" " Every day" (not "each day")
• There's a bus every ten minutes. (not "each ten minutes")

Compare the structures we use with each and every:

You can use each with a noun:
each book each student

You can use each alone (without a noun):
• None of the rooms was the same. Each was different. (= each room)

Or you can use each one:
• Each one was different.

You can say each of (the.../these... etc.):
• Read each of these sentences carefully.

• Each of the books is a different color.

Also each of us/you/them:
• Each of them is a different color.

You can use every with a noun:
every book every student

You can say every one (but not every alone):

• "hHave you read all these books?" "Yes, every one."

You can say every one of... (but not "every of...")

• I've read every one of those books. (not " every of those books")

• I've read every one of them.

You can also use each in the middle or at the end of a sentence. For example:

• The students were each given a book. (= Each student was given a book)

• These oranges cost 25 pence each.

Difference between: Everyone and every one

Everyone (one word) is only for people (= everybody).

Every one (two words) is for things or people, and is similar to each one:

• Everyone enjoyed the party. (= everybody...)
• He is invited to lots of parties and he goes to every one. (= to every party)