every */*/*/

UK [ˈevrɪ] / US determiner

Summary:

Every is generally used before a singular countable noun. The only exceptions are at Sense 2, where every can be used in phrases like "every three hours", and at Sense 3. A noun subject that follows every is used with a singular verb. In formal writing, a pronoun or possessive adjective that refers to a subject with every is usually singular: Every employee has his or her own key to the building. However, in conversation and in informal writing these pronouns and possessive adjectives are often plural: Every employee has their own key to the building.
Get it right: every:
The pronoun every is usually used with a singular noun:
Wrong: Every people has the right to live without fear of crime.
Right: Every person has the right to live without fear of crime.
Wrong: You can't blame the parents for every mistakes of their children.
Right: You can't blame the parents for every mistake of their children. However, plural nouns are used in these patterns, for talking about how often something happens: ▪  every few + plural noun ▪  every + number + plural noun He pulled out his watch every few seconds. On average, we meet for three hours every ten days. If something happens each day, you say that it happens every day: In the dry season, they move camp every day. ➡ everyday Don't confuse every one (two words) and everyone (one word):
Wrong: It is useful for every one to watch the news.
Right: It is useful for everyone to watch the news.
Every one means "each one": The government signed 453 treaties with the Native Americans and broke every one.
Everyone has the same meaning as everybody, and means "all people". Walking benefits everyone.
Every one is often followed by of: It will require the support of every one of you. Most of the pronouns that start with every are written as one word: everyone, everything, everybody, everywhere. The exception is every time, which is always written as two words:
Wrong: Having a child changes every thing in a couple's life.
Right: Having a child changes everything in a couple's life.
Wrong: Everytime I see the prisoners, it reminds me of animals kept in captivity.
Right: Every time I see the prisoners, it reminds me of animals kept in captivity.

1) used for referring to all the people or things of a particular type or in a particular group, or all the parts of something

Every bedroom has its own private bathroom.

She wrote to every member of the committee.

I can remember every detail of our conversation.

every single (= used for emphasis):

This is a decision that affects every single one of us.

every inch/moment/word (= used for emphasizing that you mean the whole of something):

A wonderful experience! I enjoyed every moment of it.

2) used for showing how often something happens or how far apart things are, especially when there is a regular time or distance between them

every day/every two hours/every few miles etc:

You should take one tablet every four hours.

There are army checkpoints every few miles along the road.

every other day/week/month etc (= on the first, third, fifth etc days, weeks, or months):

I have to work every other weekend.

The committee meets every other month.

every now and again/every now and then/every so often/every once in a while (= sometimes but not often):

Every so often he would stop work and look towards the gate.

Every now and then (= not too frequently) an event occurs that changes public attitudes.

3) used for showing how common something is by giving a number as a part of a larger number

Almost one in every five computers was found to be faulty.

4) used before some words for emphasis

every reason/sign/intention etc:

The team has every reason to feel proud after last night's stunning performance.

The economy shows every sign of making a strong recovery.

We wish you both every happiness in your future life together.

•

- every last

- every time

See:

bit I