Each other shows that an action goes from one person to the other and back: they help each other, they miss each other. The form never changes; a preposition shows the relationship: talk to each other, think about each other. It works for two people and for a group.
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verb + each other (help, know, miss); verb + preposition + each other (talk to, depend on); each other's + noun
- My sister and I call each other every Sunday, even when we're busy.
- The two teams weren't talking to each other after the match.
- We often borrow each other's notes before exams.
What changed
First versionAfter the argument, they hugged themselves and laughed.
RevisionAfter the argument, they hugged each other and laughed.
Themselves is easy to reach for when two people do something together, but it means each person does it to themselves: each of them hugged themselves. When two people do something to one another, you need each other, and with hug you can simply say They hugged.
One another means the same and sounds slightly more formal: Team members support one another. The possessive form has an apostrophe before the s: We swapped each other's phone numbers. Each others without an apostrophe is a mistake.
Your turn
Anna and Tom have been friends since school, so they know ___ really well.
Show the answer
each other — Anna and Tom have been friends since school, so each of them knows the other really well: each other. Themselves would mean each of them knows himself or herself well, which has nothing to do with their friendship.
Write about two people who help each other. Say who they are and how exactly they help.
My neighbour and I help each other: she waters my plants, and I walk her dog.
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