The phrase “on either side of” appears frequently in both everyday speech and literary contexts. It typically denotes two distinct positions or entities flanking a central point—be it physical, temporal, conceptual, or metaphorical.
Literal Usage
In its most straightforward sense, “on either side of” describes spatial arrangement. For example: “Trees stood on either side of the road.” Here, the road is central, with trees occupying both left and right margins.
Figurative Meaning
Beyond geography, the phrase often symbolizes duality or contrast: past and future, good and evil, tradition and innovation. Consider: “She stood on either side of two worlds—heritage and modernity.”
Linguistic Note
Though “either” traditionally refers to one of two options, in this construction it functions collectively— implying both sides simultaneously. This subtle nuance enriches its expressive power in writing and speech.
In Literature and Thought
Writers from Robert Frost to Virginia Woolf have used spatial metaphors like this to explore inner conflict, transition, or liminality—the state of being between. “On either side of” thus becomes a lens for examining thresholds.