To Each Their Own Saying | Meaning And Right Use

You’ve heard it in chats about food, music, clothes, hobbies, and about anything people can disagree on. The phrase “to each their own” works like a verbal shrug: it lets two people land in different places without turning it into a fight.

Still, tone matters. Said gently, it sounds open-minded. Said with a smirk, it can sound like a brush-off. This article breaks down what the saying means, when it lands well, and how to write it so it reads friendly instead of sharp.

It’s a peacekeeper when two people won’t budge on taste at all.

Fast Uses And Tone Cues

Situation	What “To Each Their Own” Signals	Safer Tone Tip
Food preferences	You respect different tastes	Add a friendly follow-up like “More for you.”
Music or movies	You’re not judging their pick	Keep your voice light, not sarcastic.
Fashion choices	You accept personal style	Pair it with a compliment if you mean one.
Hobbies you don’t share	You’re fine with different interests	Ask one curious question instead of ending the chat.
Spending choices	You won’t argue over priorities	Use it only when the stakes are low.
Routine or lifestyle habits	You’re stepping back from debate	Make sure it doesn’t sound dismissive.
Small disagreements at work	You’re okay with different approaches	Follow with “Let’s pick one path for this project.”
Online comments	You’re closing a thread politely	Skip it if the thread is already tense.
Family conversations	You’re keeping peace	Say it with warmth, not as a shutdown.

To Each Their Own Saying Meaning And Nuance

In plain terms, the saying means that different people can like different things, and that’s fine. It’s a common way to say, “Your preference is yours, and mine is mine.” You’re not asking the other person to change. You’re giving them room to be themselves.

When the phrase lands well, it carries two messages at once: you acknowledge the difference, and you remove pressure. That can calm a chat that’s starting to feel like a contest.

What The Saying Communicates

• Acceptance: “I’m okay with your choice.”
• Non-judgment: “I’m not ranking your taste against mine.”
• Boundary: “I’m not going to argue about this.”

What The Saying Does Not Communicate

• Agreement: You can respect a choice and still not share it.
• Approval of harm: It’s meant for preferences, not situations where someone is at risk.
• Disinterest in the person: If you care, show it with your tone and your next sentence.

Small Wording Notes

You’ll see a few versions in print: “to each their own,” “to each his own,” and “each to his/their own.” In casual modern English, “to each their own” is common and widely understood. Many people pick “their” because it avoids gendered wording and still reads smooth.

If you’re writing the to each their own saying in a post or essay, treat it like a normal sentence, not a slogan.

Where The Phrase Comes From And How It’s Used Now

The idea behind the saying is older than the exact English wording. A close ancestor is the Latin phrase suum cuique, often glossed as “to each their own.” English “to each his own” shows up in older writing, and you still hear it today.

Over time, common speech shifted toward “their” for many fixed phrases that once used “his.” This matches a broader pattern in English: singular “they” has been used for centuries and is a normal choice in many styles of modern writing.

What matters in daily use is clarity and tone. Most readers and listeners take “to each their own” as a friendly nod to different preferences, not as a grammar debate.

Taking Care With Tone And Timing

This is a “low-stakes” phrase. It fits best when the topic is taste: food, entertainment, hobbies, style, harmless opinions. When the topic is serious, it can sound like you’re stepping away from a real concern.

If you’re unsure, add a sentence that shows respect. One extra line can turn the phrase from a shutdown into a bridge.

When It Usually Lands Well

• Someone likes a flavor you don’t like.
• A friend loves a TV show you can’t get into.
• Two people pick different workout routines.
• A coworker prefers a different way to organize tasks.

When To Skip It

• Someone is sharing grief, fear, or stress.
• A person is asking for feedback they will act on, like “Is this resume line clear?”
• A safety rule or legal rule is involved.
• The other person already feels mocked.

Quick Tone Fixes That Sound Friendly

• “To each their own. I’m glad you found something you enjoy.”
• “To each their own—your pick makes sense for you.”
• “To each their own. I’m going to stick with my usual, though.”

Using To Each Their Own In Everyday Writing

In writing, you lose voice and facial cues, so the phrase can read sharper than you mean. That’s why short add-ons help. They show you’re being generous, not snippy.

Use lowercase in the middle of a sentence, and keep the punctuation simple. A comma works in most cases. A dash can work too, but only if it matches your style.

Short Sample Lines You Can Borrow

• “I don’t care for pineapple on pizza, but to each their own.”
• “You like early flights; I like sleeping in. To each their own.”
• “That design is bold. To each their own, and I respect the choice.”

Work Messages And Classroom Writing

In professional writing, the phrase is okay when you’re talking about harmless preferences. If the message involves a decision the team must share, follow it with a clear next step so it doesn’t sound vague.

• “To each their own on note-taking styles. For this meeting, let’s keep action items in one shared doc.”
• “To each their own on study routines. The deadline stays the same, so pick what fits your week.”

If you want a dictionary-style definition and standard usage notes, check the Cambridge Dictionary entry for “each to his/their own” and Merriam-Webster’s “to each his own” definition.

Alternatives That Sound Warmer Or More Curious

Sometimes you want the same idea, but you may want to keep the door open. These options can feel softer, or they can invite the other person to share more.

Gentle Alternatives For Friends And Family

• “Not my taste, but I’m glad you like it.”
• “That wouldn’t be my pick, but enjoy it.”
• “Fair enough—different tastes.”
• “If it works for you, that’s what counts.”

Curious Alternatives When You Want The Story

• “What do you like most about it?”
• “How did you get into that hobby?”
• “What’s the part that hooked you?”

Casual Alternatives For Texts

• “You do you.”
• “Different strokes.”
• “Hey, whatever makes you happy.”

Similar Phrases And When They Fit

English has a bunch of ways to say “we’re different, and that’s okay.” Some are playful. Some are formal. Picking the right one is about the moment and the audience.

Phrase	When It Fits	Watch-Out
“Different strokes for different folks”	Light chats among friends	Can sound a bit dated in formal writing
“That’s not my thing”	When you want honesty without debate	Add warmth so it doesn’t sound cold
“I can see why you like it”	When you want to validate a preference	Only say it if you mean it
“I’m glad that works for you”	When you want to be kind and clear	Can sound stiff if the chat is playful
“We’ll agree to disagree”	When a debate is going nowhere	Can feel formal or final
“I respect your choice”	When feelings might be involved	Don’t use it as a lecture
“That’s a bold pick”	When you want to keep it playful	Can sound snarky without a smile
“Works for me, but you choose”	When you’re offering an option	Be clear about limits and deadlines

Common Mistakes That Make It Sound Rude

The phrase gets a bad reputation when it’s used as a verbal eye-roll. That’s not the saying’s job. The fix is simple: remove the sting, or replace the line with something kinder.

In print, the to each their own saying reads best when it’s paired with a small sign of respect, like a compliment or a curious question.

Rude Patterns To Avoid

• Using it right after an insult: “That’s gross. To each their own.”
• Using it to end a real talk: “To each their own,” then changing the subject.
• Writing it as a comment reply with no warmth, since text can feel icy.
• Adding sarcasm markers like “lol” when the other person is serious.

Simple Rewrites That Keep The Peace

• Try: “That’s not my taste, but I get why you like it.”
• Try: “I’d pick something else, but I’m glad it works for you.”
• Try: “Fair enough. Want to tell me what you like about it?”

Practical Checklist For Using The Phrase Well

If you want “to each their own” to sound warm, run a quick check in your head before you say it. It takes two seconds and saves a lot of awkwardness.

1. Check the stakes: Is this a preference, not a serious need?
2. Check your face: Would your expression match respect?
3. Add one friendly line: A short follow-up removes edge.
4. Stay curious: Ask a question if you want to keep talking.
5. Don’t use it to win: The phrase is a peace move, not a point.

Mini Practice For Fluent Use

Want it to sound natural? Practice swapping it into sentences where it fits. Read these out loud and keep the rhythm smooth. Then make your own.

Swap-In Prompts

• “I can’t get into that band.” → “I can’t get into that band, but to each their own.”
• “That movie bored me.” → “That movie bored me, but to each their own.”
• “I’d never buy that color.” → “I’d never buy that color. To each their own.”

Add A Warm Follow-Up

• “To each their own. ____” → “To each their own. I’m glad you’re enjoying it.”
• “To each their own. ____” → “To each their own. Tell me what sold you on it.”
• “To each their own. ____” → “To each their own. I’ll stick with my usual.”

A Calm Phrase That Protects Friendships

Used well, “to each their own” is a simple way to keep disagreements small. It lets people keep their preferences without feeling judged. Add a warm follow-up, watch your timing, and the saying will do what it’s meant to do: keep the talk easy and respectful.

One last reminder for writing: if you’re using the phrase in a comment, email, or message, add a touch of kindness. A single extra sentence can carry your tone when your voice can’t.