"one another" vs "each other"

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

Hi,
Please have a look at this:

Everybody should help…
a. each other
b. one another

What should we choose and why?
My choice: a
(I think “one another” is used when we refer to 3 or more people)

Regards
Nessie.

2

I agree. For more than two people.

3

Thanks Molly. I think you agree with my idea that “one another” refers to 3 or more people, but perhaps you don’t agree with me about the choice of “each other” here (because “everybody” surely refers to more than two people), right?

Now let’s give this a look:

  • we should help each other (two people)
  • we should help one another (more than two people)

Is that right?

4

Hi,
I need a confirmation, please.

5

??? :o:O:O ???

6

Hi Nessie

Right, the word ‘everybody’ generally refers to more than two people.

I presume your original sentence comes from an exercise book, and I presume that the author expects you to use ‘one another’. That would be the “prescriptive” answer.

If a native speaker began a sentence with “Everybody should help…”, I’d say they’d be just as likely to end the sentence with ‘each other’ as with ‘one another’ (if not more likely).

I much prefer your sentences using ‘we’ (instead of ‘everybody’):

Prescriptively speaking, yes. In reality, this “rule” is frequently ignored, and many experts agree that this “rule” is far from absolute.
.

7

Everybody should help… hmm…

Usually it’s “Everybody should help each other” while it’s “Everyone should help one another.”

I’m not sure why this is the case.

Comments? Thoughts?

Cheers.

8

Now let’s give this a look:

  • we should help each other (two people) - [color=blue]Could also be more two groups of people.
  • we should help one another (more than two people) - [color=blue]Could also be more than two groups of people.
9

Hi Nessie

Have a look at this:

each other vs one another
.