each

Each is a word in the English language that functions as a determiner and as a pronoun. It refers to the individuals in a group considered separately rather than collectively, and it is used with singular count nouns to indicate one member at a time.

As a determiner, each precedes a singular noun: for example, each student, each page, or each item. It can also appear in a predeterminer position within an of-phrase: each of the students, each of the problems. When used this way, the verb typically agrees with the singular implied by each: Each of the options is acceptable. As a pronoun, each can stand alone: Each was given a badge.

Usage and nuance help distinguish each from every. Each emphasizes individuals within a group, often in smaller sets or when focusing on individual treatment. Every emphasizes the group as a whole and a sense of totality, as in every member or every time. In practice, speakers often choose between them based on emphasis and formality. For example, “Each participant completed the survey” versus “Every participant completed the survey” can convey slightly different implications about uniformity or attention to individuals.

Etymology and related forms: the word derives from Old English and has cognates in other Germanic languages, such as Dutch elk. It is a distributive determiner and pronoun, used with singular count nouns and in phrases like “each of the …” to refer to individuals within a group.