Usage question: "each" vs. "every"

[Beruang]

Is there a distinction between “each” and “every”? The dictionaries I have consulted use the words to define one another; the usage guides do not touch on the subject (other than to say “avoid the cliche”); and entering “each and every” into a web search results in an unwiedly number of hits, as you might well imagine.

So, are they pretty much interchangeable, or is there some subtle distinction between them?

Thanks,

– Beruang

[Walloon]

The distinction is subtle. The word each emphasizes the individuality of the person, place, or thing; while every emphasizes the inclusiveness of all persons, places, or things. Think of the sentence, “Everyone knows that!” You wouldn’t say, "Each one knows that!

[Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker]

From the editors of the OED (bolding mine):

The early use of “each” corresponded closely to the modern use of its compound “every” (= “ever each”), the only difference being that it has always been possible to use “each” when only two things are referred to. Thus a sentence with a singular subject preceded by “each” would (formerly) have been slightly if at all altered in meaning by the substitution of a plural subject preceded by “all.” In modern usage “each” has assumed the sense of the Latin quisque and implies a distribution of the predicate or object parallel with the distribution of the subject (or conversely). An exception to this rule results from the fact that we cannot use “every” when only two persons or things are spoken of, so that in this case “each” retains its original extended use.