Each other vs.

One another
Express a reciprocal relationship

EACH OTHER

Each other like all pronouns refers back to a noun that comes before it (an
antecedent). However, because it is a reciprocal pronoun, it refers to two nouns
or a group noun. It expresses what one person feels toward or does for the
other; the other feels or does the same in return.

RECIPROCAL —TWO

Sophie loves Jim and Jim loves Sophie. ⇒

Sophie and Jim love each other. (refers to subject)
Sophie and Jim each love the other.
Each person loves the other person.

Occasionally, they get angry at each other. (refers to subj. pronoun)

Occasionally, they each get angry at the other.
Occasionally, each gets angry at the other.

We have to protect them from each other. (refers to obj. pronoun)

We have to protect each of them from the other.

**Sophie and Jim believe that each other is wrong. (refers to subject of the
main clause)
*Each other is wrong. (missing antecedent)

RECIPROCAL—TWO OR MORE

Our family loves each other.

After a fight, each person apologizes to the others.
ONE ANOTHER

One another expresses the same idea of reciprocity ("one and another").
However, some people use each other for two people and one another for more
than two. Other people use each other and one another in the same contexts.
This difference is disputed (not accepted by all.)

RECIPROCAL—TWO:

Sophie loves Jim and Jim loves Sophie. ⇒

Sophie and Jim love one another.
~One person loves another person. (unclear meaning)

Occasionally, they get angry at one another.

~One person gets angry at another. (unclear meaning)

We have to protect them from one another.

**Sophie and Jim believe one another is wrong.

*One another is wrong.

RECIPROCAL—TWO OR MORE

Our family loves one another.

After a fight, everyone apologizes to one another.

*not used / ~unclear meaning, awkward usage, requires a particular context

reciprocal (Adj) – given, done, felt in return, mutual (A-B and B-A)

1 - Each other, one another: "Two people look at each other, More than two
look at one another. Either phrase may be used when the number is indefinite:
We help each other. We help one another." — Associated Press (2016)
2 – “Sophie and Jim” are antecedents of "each other". That is to say that the
nouns/names are mentioned first so that we know who "each other" refers to.

3 - One another ("one and the other") This expression is not used as the subject
of a clause, nor is it used as the subject of a subordinate clause. However, the
expression "each other" does occur, perhaps informally, as the subject of a
subordinate clause. They think that [each other is cheating].

ONE ANOTHER
One to the next one
"All to each other" vs. "One to the next one"

ONE ANOTHER – BACK AND FORTH "RECIPROCAL"

One another may express reciprocity among sets or groups. Each one
acts/feels with all others: "all to each other".

RECIPROCAL —TWO OR MORE

Our family loves one another.

(Each member of our family loves every member of the family.)

Chris, Pat and Robin protect one another.

The staff collaborates with one another.

ONE ANOTHER – ON TO NEXT “LINEAR"

One another may also express a "next one" concept among sets or groups.
Each one act/feels with the next one: "one to the next". (Think linear.)

RECIPROCAL —TWO OR MORE

The brothers hand down their clothes to one another.

(As the boys grow, each gives his clothes to the younger child.)
At dinner, we pass bread to one another.
We sit next to one another.

The villagers handed buckets of water to one another to put out the fire.
The students passed a note to one another in class.

RECIPROCAL PRONOUN AGREEMENT

Express two or more entities with plural nouns

Plural and Singular Exceptions

PLURAL
Because a reciprocal pronoun involves two or more entities (people, things,
concepts), the noun forms are usually plural. Similarly, the genitive (possessive)
noun is also usually plural (unless it is a noncount noun).

SUBJECT NOUN

All love each other.

The husband and wife get angry at each other.

GENITIVE NOUN

We know each other's experiences. (both count and non-count)

We know the experiences of each other.
We know each other's names. (the names differ)

SINGULAR —EXCEPTIONS
However, a few words that are singular in form may express two or more
entities. This is true for indefinite pronouns everyone, everybody, none and for
collective pronouns family, staff, team, and so on.
SUBJECT NOUN

Everyone loves each other.

(Everyone "in general" is an indefinite pronoun.)

The couple gets angry at each other.

(The focus is on the individuals of the group noun.)

GENITIVE NOUN

We know each other's experience. (both count and non-count)

We know the experience of each other.

We know each other's name. (e.g., they share a last name)

GENITIVE RECIPROCAL PRONOUNS

Express possession, relationship or traits

Each other's / One another's

EACH OTHER'S
Each other takes the genitive (or possessive) form, which is written with an
apostrophe plus s. While the antecedent (the noun that it refers back to) may
be two plural nouns, the reciprocal pronoun is singular.

ONE OR MORE THAN ONE

Sophie and Jim like each other's companionship. (plural verb)

Sophie and Jim like the companionship of each other. “of”

A counselor advises the group about each other's responsibilities.

**Sophie and Jim dispute each others' rights. (misplaced apostrophe)

ONE ANOTHER'S

One another also takes the genitive form, which is written with an apostrophe
plus s. Even though the antecedent is plural, the reciprocal pronoun is singular
in its genitive (possessive) form.

ONE OR MORE THAN ONE

Sophie and Jim like one another's companionship. (plural verb)

Sophie and Jim like the companionship of one another. “of”

A counselor advises the group about one another's responsibilities.

**Sophie and Jim dispute one anothers' rights. (misplaced apostrophe)

Common Mistakes - Errors and Solutions

ERROR

*Sal and Em text themselves several times a day.

(Sal texts to Sal and Em texts to Em.)

*They married each other last year.

(It is unnecessary to mention "each other" if "they" refers to one couple.)

*The sisters opened and read each others' email.

*After such behavior, they no longer love theirselves.

*The two bags were put inside one another. (impossible!)

SOLUTION

Sal and Em text each other several times a day.

(Sal texts to Em and Em texts to Sal.)

They married last year. They [Sophie and Jim] became man and wife.
They married each other. They [Person1 and Person 2] each officiated the
ceremony for the other person and his/her partner.

The sisters opened and read each other's / one another's email.
(The apostrophe is placed after other [singular] or another [singular].)

After such behavior, they no longer love themselves or each other.

(Use either themselves or each other or both.

The two bags were put one inside the another.

EXERCISE:

Complete the sentence with one or more reciprocal pronouns. Select the
response from the list that best completes the sentence.

1.Initially, the twins helped _______________ improve their running skills.

2.The twins urged the younger brothers to develop _______________ natural

ability as sprinters (short distance runners).

3.Later all the brothers helped _______________.

4.They practiced passing the baton to _______________.

5.They are excited to be a part of _______________ success.

6.They continue to encourage _______________ on their respective college

teams.
RESULT:

1 - each other / one another

2 - each other’s (one another’s)

3 - each other / one another (formal)

4 - one another (linear—one to the next in the relay)

5 - one another’s (formal) / each other’s

6 - each other / one another (formal)