Reciprocal Pronouns
Reciprocal forms describe participants acting toward or relating to one another. They differ from reflexive pronouns because the action or relation crosses between participants rather than returning to the same participant.
Reciprocal pronouns express a mutual relationship. In modern English, “each other” and “one another” are the main reciprocal forms, and the old rule reserving one for two participants and the other for more than two is not a reliable absolute.
Key details
Further guidance
Contrast
“They blamed themselves” is reflexive; “They blamed each other” is reciprocal.
Diagnostic
Ask whether participants are acting toward one another rather than each participant acting on itself.
Possessive
Use possessive reciprocal forms such as “each other’s” when the relationship is possessive.
Worked Example
“The two editors checked each other’s citations” expresses a mutual relationship and uses the possessive reciprocal form.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- Each other, one another (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press · Defines each other and one another as reciprocal forms for mutual actions, covers possessives, spacing and common errors.
- Pronouns (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press · Places reciprocal forms in the broader pronoun system and supports distinction from reflexive and other pronoun classes.