Other, Another or Others? Common Grammar Mistakes
Another usually means one more or a different one: another chair. Other goes before plural or uncountable nouns: other chairs, other furniture. Others stands alone: some stayed; others left. The phrase another two days is also correct: it means two additional days.
Correct the noun phrase
| Incorrect | Correct | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| another information | other information | Information is uncountable. |
| other example | another example | A singular countable example needs a determiner here. |
| others students | other students | Do not add -s to other before a noun. |
| another shoes | other shoes / another pair of shoes | Pair supplies a singular countable head noun. |
Why another two days is correct
The basic singular rule has an important extension: another can precede a number plus a plural noun to describe an additional amount. We need another three chairs and I waited another ten minutes are standard constructions. This does not make another chairs correct without a number or another suitable expression.
The other versus another
Use the other for a specific remaining item: I have two gloves; where is the other one? Use another when choosing an additional or different item without identifying a unique remaining one: This chair is broken; may I have another?
Others versus the others
Some people walked; others took the bus refers to an unspecified other group. Two students stayed; the others left refers to the remaining members of an understood group. Do not put a noun immediately after the pronoun others.
Check a short conversation
“This answer needs ___ example.” “I have two examples. One is about work; ___ is about travel.”
Show answer
another; the other
The first requests an additional example. The second identifies the remaining one of two.
For a focused noun-type comparison, see other vs another with countable and uncountable nouns. Review countability or everyone vs every one next.