Page 187 - Practical English Usage 3ed - Michael Swan, Oxford

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efficient and effective
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If somebody/something is efficient, he/she/it works in a well-organised way without wasting time or energy.
He's not very efficient: he keeps filing letters in the wrong place, he works very slowly, and he keeps forgetting things.
The postal service is even less efficient than the telephone system.
If something is effective, it has the right effect: it solves a problem or gets a result.
My lleadache's much better. Those tablets really are effective.
I think a wide black belt would look very effective with that dress.
either: determiner either + singular
We use either with a singular noun to mean 'one or the other' of two. Come on Tuesday or Thursday. Either day is OK. (NOT Either tidys ...) She didn't get on with either parent. (NOT ••• either ptlrellts)
either of
We use either ofbefore a determiner (for example the, my, these- see 154) or a pronoun. A following noun is plural.
You can use either of the bathrooms.
I don't like either ofmy maths teachers. I don't like either o f them.
A verb after either o f is more often singular, but it can sometimes be plural in an informal style.
Either o f the children is perfectly capable o f looking after the baby. She just doesn't care what either ofher parents say(s).
without a noun
We can use either alone if the meaning is clear. Would you like tea or coffee?~ I don't mind. Either.
pronouns
When a pronoun is used later in a clause to refer back to either + noun/ pronoun, the later pronoun can be singular (more formal) or plural (more informal).
Ifeither of the boys phones, tell him/them I'll be in this evening. either side/end
In these expreSSions, either sometimes means 'each'. There are roses on either side of the door.
pronunciation
Either is pronounced /,ar.Oa(r)/ or /,i:Oa(r)/ (in American English usually /,i:Oar/).
For either . .. or, see 175.
For IlOt ••• either, neither and nor, see 374.
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either: determiner 174
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