Each other or one another in Legal English
Legal English Innovation
One Another v Each Other
QUICK GUIDE
As part of speech both are considered pronouns and the origin dates back to the sixteenth century.
The general rule in English is that each other refers only to two people; and one another for groups of three or more. The current use of the aforementioned rule is not strictly observed and is often used interchangeably in modern speech; on the other hand, it is necessary to use these terms correctly when drafting legal documents and texts.
Let’s dive in.
Some examples below:
Let’s look at some examples in a corporate law context.
Each other
Two People
Verb + preposition + each other
- The committee heads discussed the joint motion between each other in the meeting.
- The CEO and the president of the company must communicate with each other.
- The auditor and the accountant must not talk to each other under any circumstances.
One Another
Multiple People
Verb + preposition + one another
- The board members discussed the SPA among one another at the EGM.
- The C-Suit is working with one another in order to set up the merger immediately.
- It is very important that the executive directors and non-executive directors do not interact with one another outside of board meetings.
Final tips to remember:
The important thing is not the right thing, the important thing is that the statement is clear and concrete.
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About the Author
Eric Froiland
Eric Froiland, originating from the United States, is a distinguished legal English instructor who has resided in Bogota, Colombia for the past decade. He holds the esteemed position of a guest columnist at Ambito Jurídico, where he shares his profound knowledge with its discerning readership. Additionally, as the proprietor and founder of Legal English Innovation SAS, he has earned widespread recognition as the foremost legal English academy in Colombia, proudly serving as an official Test of Legal English Skills (TOLES) examination center.
