Reciprocal Pronouns: Each Other vs. One Another
Imagine two colleagues, Ravi and Priya, working late on a presentation. You might say, "They helped themselves," but wait—does that mean Ravi helped Ravi and Priya helped Priya? No! You want to say that Ravi helped Priya, and Priya helped Ravi. To express this mutual action, you need a reciprocal pronoun: "They helped each other." Let's explore how to use these pronouns correctly, especially in formal writing where precision matters.
Reciprocal pronouns express a mutual relationship or action between two or more people or things. English has exactly two reciprocal pronouns:
- Each other
- One another
1. Each Other vs. One Another: The Traditional Rule
If you are writing a formal essay, taking an exam (like UPSC or IELTS), or editing a professional document, it is safest to follow the traditional grammatical distinction.
A. Each Other (For Two)
Traditionally, use each other when exactly two people, groups, or things are involved.
✅ Ravi and Priya helped each other with the project. (2 people)
✅ The two rival companies merged with each other. (2 companies)
B. One Another (For Three or More)
Traditionally, use one another when three or more people or things are involved in a group dynamic.
✅ The five team members supported one another during the crisis. (Group of 5)
✅ The finalist cities are competing with one another for the title. (Multiple cities)
While the "two vs. three+" rule is taught in schools, in modern everyday English, native speakers use each other and one another interchangeably regardless of the number. However, stick to the rule for exams to avoid losing marks!
2. Forming Possessives
Reciprocal pronouns can show ownership. To do this, treat them as singular nouns and add an apostrophe + s ('s).
✅ They read each other's reports before the meeting.
✅ The students borrowed one another's notes before the exam.
❌ Incorrect: each others' / one anothers' (The apostrophe must come before the 's').
3. Crucial Grammar Rule: Objects Only!
A very important rule to remember is that reciprocal pronouns function only as objects. They can never be the subject of a clause.
| ❌ Incorrect (Used as Subject) | ✅ Correct (Used as Object) |
|---|---|
| Each other helped in the project. | They helped each other. |
| We know what one another are thinking. | We know what we are thinking about one another. |
4. Reflexive vs. Reciprocal Pronouns
Don't confuse reciprocal pronouns (each other) with reflexive pronouns (themselves, ourselves). They completely change the meaning of the sentence!
- Reflexive (Themselves): The doer and the receiver of the action are the same.
"Ravi and Priya hurt themselves." (Ravi hurt Ravi; Priya hurt Priya.) - Reciprocal (Each Other): The action is mutual between different people.
"Ravi and Priya hurt each other." (Ravi hurt Priya; Priya hurt Ravi.)
5. Common Indian Learner Errors
Because of how verbs translate from regional languages, Indian learners sometimes add unnecessary prepositions or misuse these pronouns.
- Unnecessary Prepositions: Some verbs already imply mutual action (e.g., meet, marry, argue, resemble, divorce). Adding 'with each other' is often redundant.
❌ They married with each other last year.
✅ They married last year. - Overusing 'One Another': Using 'one another' for a married couple sounds overly formal and technically incorrect if adhering to traditional rules. Say, "The couple loved each other," not "one another."
✏️ Quick Practice — Test Your Knowledge
- Choose the best option for formal writing: The twin brothers always defend (each other / one another).
- Correct the apostrophe error: They accidentally took each others jackets.
- Identify the meaning: "The boxers hit themselves." Did they hit the opponent or their own bodies?
Answers: 1. each other (because there are two brothers). | 2. each other's | 3. Their own bodies (Reflexive pronoun).
Summary & Key Takeaways
- Use each other for two people or things, and one another for three or more (especially in formal/exam settings).
- Possessives are formed by adding 's (each other's, one another's).
- Reciprocal pronouns can only be the object of a sentence, never the subject.
- Remember the difference: themselves means self-inflicted action, while each other means mutual action between different people.