Difference Between Each and Every In English Grammar
Each and Every are commonly used words in English language and for using them correctly it is important to understand the differences between the two. ‘Each’ is a determiner which must be used with a countable noun. For example:
Each player is better than the other one in terms of performance. Here, ‘each’ is a determiner.
It is noteworthy that ‘each of’ must be used especially when there is other determiner.
For example:
Each of my friends came to see me. In this sentence the plurality of the determiner of the element is clearly understood by the use of ‘my’ which is possessive formative element. This is why ‘each’ is followed by ‘of’.
On the contrary ‘every’ puts things or people into a group. Its use is something like ‘all’. Use of ‘every’ generalizes things while ‘each’ separates them.
Observe the two sentences:
1. Every professional singer practices singing for at least 4 hours a day.
2. Each violinist exhibits his own skill of playing the bow.
Look at the two sentences:
1. Every singer has to practice for 4 hours per day.
2. Each singer practices for 4 hours a day.
In the first sentence we have generalized the concept by using ‘every’ while in the second sentence the use of ‘each’ emphasizes on the fact that each singer practices daily and there is no exception to it.
Interestingly sometimes both are used interchangeably. For example, you always look prettier each time I see you. Here even if we replace ‘each’ with ‘every’ then meaning would not change.