If you’ve ever paused mid-sentence, wondering whether to write “each is” or “each are,” you’re not alone. This is one of the most common subject-verb agreement mistakes in American English — made by native speakers, students, and professional writers alike. The good news? Once you understand the rule, you’ll never second-guess it again.
Understanding What “Each” Really Means in American English
The word “each” is a distributive determiner and pronoun. It refers to every individual member of a group, considered separately — not as a collective whole. This single idea drives every grammar rule attached to it.
Key Points
- “Each” emphasizes individuals within a group, not the group itself.
- It functions as a singular subject, which means it pairs with a singular verb.
- It can act as a pronoun, adjective, or adverb depending on sentence position.
- It applies only to countable nouns — things you can count individually.
Mini Example
✅ Each student is responsible for their own work. ❌ Each student are responsible for their own work.
The subject is “each,” not “students.” Because “each” is singular, the verb must be singular too.
Why “Each Is” Is Grammatically Correct
In American English, subject-verb agreement is the rule that the verb must match its subject in number. “Each” is classified as a singular indefinite pronoun, placing it in the same grammatical category as everyone, nobody, anyone, and either.
Why the Grammar Rule Is Strict
Because “each” separates a group into individual units, the logic is: you are talking about one at a time, not all at once. Think of it this way — if you said “every item,” you wouldn’t say “every item is on the shelf.” The same principle applies to “each.”
| Correct Form | Incorrect Form |
|---|---|
| Each player is ready. | Each player are ready. |
| Each item has a label. | Each item have a label. |
| Each result was recorded. | Each result were recorded. |
The verb stays singular regardless of what comes after “each.”
Why “Each Are” Sounds Wrong in Standard English
You’ll sometimes hear “each are” in casual conversation. But in standard American English — particularly in formal and written contexts — it’s considered a grammatical error.
Why Do People Make This Mistake?
There are a few reasons this confusion persists:
- The noun that immediately follows “each” is often plural (e.g., each of the players).
- In fast, informal speech, plural-sounding phrases pull the verb toward the plural.
- Writers sometimes confuse “each” with “all” or “both,” which do take plural verbs.
Example
❌ Each of the cars are new. — Incorrect; the verb matches “cars” instead of “each.” ✅ Each of the cars is new. — Correct; the verb matches “each.”
The trick is to mentally block out any plural nouns between “each” and the verb. They don’t change the rule.
“Each” with Singular and Plural Nouns
Pattern 1: Each + Singular Noun
When “each” directly precedes a singular noun, the sentence is straightforward. The verb is always singular.
- Each book is worth reading.
- Each employee was notified.
- Each answer carries equal weight.
Pattern 2: Each of + Plural Noun
This is where most people stumble. Even though a plural noun follows “each of,” the verb must still be singular.
- Each of the reports is complete.
- Each of the candidates has submitted a form.
- Each of the children was given a prize.
Why Do These Take Singular Verbs?
The grammatical subject is always “each” — not the plural noun inside the prepositional phrase. A simple test: replace “each of the [plural noun]” with “every single one.” Would you say “every single one are ready”? No — and neither would you use “are” with “each.”
“Each Of”: Singular or Plural?
The phrase “each of” follows the same rule as “each” alone. It always takes a singular verb, even when followed by a plural pronoun like them, us, or the students.
Why Does “Each of” Still Need a Singular Verb?
Because “of” introduces a prepositional phrase, not a second subject. The head noun of the sentence remains “each,” and that noun is singular.
Examples with Correct Verbs
| Sentence | Correct? |
|---|---|
| Each of them is welcome. | ✅ |
| Each of them are welcome. | ❌ |
| Each of us has a role to play. | ✅ |
| Each of us have a role to play. | ❌ |
What About Pronouns?
When a pronoun follows “each of,” choose a singular verb but feel free to use “their” for gender-neutral reference:
✅ Each of the participants is bringing their own equipment.
This is fully grammatical in modern American English and aligns with contemporary usage guides.
Using “Each” with Collective and Group Nouns
Collective nouns — like team, committee, family, and jury — can be tricky. In American English, they’re typically treated as singular units.
✅ Each team is responsible for submitting its score. ✅ Each committee has its own budget.
Why Not Plural?
Because “each” already separates the groups individually. You’re saying: every single team, on its own, is responsible. The verb stays singular.
Advanced Example
Each member of the board has reviewed the proposal.
Here, “member” is the singular noun, “of the board” is a prepositional phrase, and “each” is the subject. All three pointers lead to a singular verb: has.
Informal Speech vs Formal Writing
In everyday conversation, people often relax grammar rules for flow and rhythm. You might hear:
“Each of them are bringing something.”
This sounds natural in speech — but it’s technically incorrect.
But in Writing?
Formal writing — academic papers, business emails, professional articles — demands correct subject-verb agreement. An editor will flag “each are” as an error every time.
Practical Rule
Speak how you like. Write “each is.”
American vs British Tendencies
Both American and British English treat “each” as singular. However, British English sometimes applies plural verbs to collective nouns more freely (e.g., “The team are playing well”). With “each” specifically, both varieties agree: the verb must be singular.
| Variety | Sentence | Accepted? |
|---|---|---|
| American English | Each of the players is ready. | ✅ |
| British English | Each of the players is ready. | ✅ |
| Either variety | Each of the players are ready. | ❌ |
“Each” with Pronouns and Modern Language
Modern English increasingly favors gender-neutral pronouns, especially they/them. Some writers worry this creates a mismatch with singular “each.” It doesn’t.
Why This Works
The singular verb agrees with “each.” The pronoun “their” serves as a gender-neutral singular reference — a usage now recognized by most major style guides including the AP Stylebook and Chicago Manual of Style.
Examples
- Each guest is welcome to bring their partner.
- Each applicant has uploaded their documents.
- Each winner is honored for their achievements.
This combination — singular verb + plural pronoun “their” — is the standard modern approach in American English.
Relative Clauses with “Each”
Relative clauses (introduced by who, that, or whom) attached to sentences with “each” follow the same logic: the verb inside the clause agrees with “each,” not the noun in a prepositional phrase.
Common Structures
- Each student who passes the exam receives a certificate.
- Each of the items that is defective will be replaced.
Key Rule
The relative pronoun (who/that) gets its number from the noun it refers to.
When to Use “Whom”
Use whom when the pronoun functions as an object:
Each candidate whom the panel selected was qualified.
When to Use “Who”
Use who when it functions as the subject of the relative clause:
Each candidate who applied met the requirements.
Real Examples from Literature and Media
Grammar authorities and major publications consistently use “each is”:
- The Cambridge Dictionary states: “Each is usually followed by a singular noun.”
- Grammarly confirms: “If the nouns of the subject are modified by ‘each,’ they are considered singular and use is.”
- NMU Writing Center: “Each of these hot dogs is juicy.”
- Loyola Law School grammar guide: “Each of the players wants to win.”
These aren’t edge cases — they reflect the universal standard across academic, professional, and publishing contexts.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Mistake 1: Matching the Verb to the Plural Noun
❌ Each of the boxes are labeled. ✅ Each of the boxes is labeled.
Fix: Ignore “boxes.” Your true subject is “each.”
Mistake 2: Thinking “Each” and “All” Follow the Same Rules
❌ Each student are here. (treating “each” like “all”) ✅ All the students are here. / Each student is here.
“All” takes a plural verb. “Each” takes a singular verb. They are not interchangeable in this context.
Mistake 3: Overthinking Long Sentences
❌ Each of the documents submitted by the regional offices are now archived. ✅ Each of the documents submitted by the regional offices is now archived.
No matter how long the sentence grows, “each” remains the subject.
Mistake 4: Using Plural Verbs Because It “Sounds Natural” in Speech
Informal speech patterns don’t override formal grammar. In writing, subject-verb agreement rules always apply.
Mistake 5: Confusion with “Every,” “Any,” and “Either”
All four words — each, every, any, either — take singular verbs. If you know the rule for one, you know it for all.
Quick Reference: When to Use “Each Is”
| Situation | Example | Correct Verb |
|---|---|---|
| Each + singular noun | Each child is invited. | is |
| Each of + plural noun | Each of the teams is ready. | is |
| Each of + pronoun | Each of them has a ticket. | has |
| Each + relative clause | Each student who applies is reviewed. | is |
| Each in compound subjects | Each man and woman is eligible. | is |
FAQ’s
Why is “each is” correct instead of “each are”?
“Each” is a singular indefinite pronoun. Under subject-verb agreement rules, singular subjects always take singular verbs — so “each is” is always correct.
Can “each are” ever be correct?
No. In standard American English — whether formal or informal writing — “each are” is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided.
How do you use “each is” in a sentence?
Simply pair “each” with a singular verb: Each item is priced separately. or Each of the guests is seated.
Does “each of” change the verb form?
No. “Each of” still takes a singular verb because “each” remains the grammatical subject, regardless of the plural noun that follows.
Is “each has” correct?
Yes. “Has” is also a singular verb form. Each student has a textbook is perfectly correct and follows the same rule as “each is.”
Conclusion
The debate between each is and each are has a clear winner: “each is” is always correct in standard American English. Because “each” focuses on individuals within a group — one at a time — it functions as a singular subject and demands a singular verb. Each Is or Each Are.
Whether you’re writing “each of the players,” “each student,” or “each one of us,” the verb follows the same rule: Each Is or Each Are. Keep it singular. Use is, has, was, or does — never their plural counterparts.
