both the vs both of the

Both phrases are correct, but they're used in different contexts. "Both the" is used when referring to specific items or people, while "both of the" is used to refer to a group of items or people. They're not interchangeable.

Explained by Miss E.
Editor at TextRanch

Last updated: February 14, 2025 • 6350 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used when referring to specific items or people.

"both the "

Use "both the" when you want to refer to specific items or people. For example, "Both the books on the shelf are mine."

Examples:

Both the books on the shelf are mine.
Both the children in the class were excited.
Both the cars in the garage need repairs.

Show examples from the web [+]
Last updated: November 29, 2024

Aug 10, 2023 ... Hi everyone. Which of the following sentences is correct and why? Both sisters have long hair. Both the sisters have long hair.
May 9, 2011 ... People sometimes do this anyway, such as in the phrase "the both of them", but it's informal. On the other hand, "both the users" is short for " ...
Sep 22, 2014 ... We RARELY say "both the X" in English, but it is valid and meaningful. The use of "the" here emphasizes that we are talking about a ...
Oct 3, 2012 ... Fortunately neither driver was injured, but .... cars were badly damaged. The key of English Grammar in Use gives both, both the and both of the ...
3 days ago ... In Bladesong you are both the real hero and villain of any fantasy RPG - the person who makes all the swords ... Video games in general have a ...
May 17, 2013 ... The site for the URL 'http://MyServer.com/MyTestProject' exists on both the local IIS web server and the IIS Express web server. You need to ...
Oct 1, 2024 ... Details: Issue is that since I want to serve both the apps separately, the REST API queries of the second app should send requests to different ...
Nov 12, 2024 ... A new find for me, both the piece and the composer. Sublime.
Oct 1, 2014 ... I was downloading a game, everything was going good so far, but then this proble *the same volume cannot be used as both the source and ...
Oncogenic Kras is required for both the initiation and maintenance of pancreatic cancer in mice. J Clin Invest. 2012 Feb;122(2):639-53. doi: 10.1172/JCI59227 ...

Alternatives:

all the
each of the
every one of the
both of them
both of those

This phrase is correct and commonly used when referring to a group of items or people.

"both of the "

Use "both of the" when you want to refer to a group of items or people. For example, "Both of the books on the shelf are interesting."

Examples:

Both of the books on the shelf are interesting.
Both of the children in the class were well-behaved.
Both of the cars in the garage are red.

Show examples from the web [+]
Last updated: November 29, 2024

1 day ago ... Were both of the Everdeen's only children? Lore/World Discussion. Thinking back to Katniss's father's death, it's hard to believe that ...
Oct 3, 2012 ... Fortunately neither driver was injured, but .... cars were badly damaged. The key of English Grammar in Use gives both, both the and both of the ...
Aug 28, 2008 ... Starting today, when I try to edit something into the sequence without first marking an in AND an out, I get the error popup "One or both of the ...
Jun 5, 2024 ... This time I'm seeking all quests, so having both of the weapons might be helpful..
Teaching and learning gross anatomy: dissection, prosection, or "both of the above?"
Apr 25, 2023 ... Anyone else wish Athena didn't have BOTH of the Death Defiance boons? Discussion. Specifically I mean the ones that give back 1 use. There's ...
Mar 18, 2024 ... djafterthought on March 18, 2024: "4/20 Weekend in Denver with BOTH of the gangs!!! @earthgang @taylorgang gonna have the whole city going ...
The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the ...
Jun 16, 2024 ... nikwestbass on June 16, 2024: "I'm a bad a$$ because of both of the men in my life. I can only do what I do… at the level I do it …because ...
How do I see the activity history for both of the two dots I have?? I have two echo dots, one is the ball, the other one is the puck, and I am having ...

Alternatives:

all of the
each of the
every one of the
both of them
both of those

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both the vs both of the

"both the "

"both of the "

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