Timeline for "one of A and B" or "one of A or B"?
Current License: CC BY-SA 3.0
9 events
| when toggle format | what | by | license | comment | |
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| Mar 6, 2018 at 22:43 | comment | added | Carlos Chida | You're again extending semantical use to back your argument. Which is not wrong in most cases, but this a matter of exactitude. 'Available in' does not imply 'you can choose from' in every case. ' You can take it in either black or white but not both. It is available in both colours, either black or white, but we have a one-per-customer policy.' | |
| Mar 5, 2018 at 16:16 | comment | added | Scott - Слава Україні | Interesting example, but I’m not persuaded that it’s relevant. “[It is] available in __” means “You can choose ___”, and “It is available in either black or white” means “You can choose either black or white”. The fact that you can choose black or white but not both is implicit when you say “either”. … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Are you suggesting that it would be appropriate to say “available in [either] black or white but not both”? You just said that “available in either black or white” means that the thing is available in both colors. | |
| Mar 5, 2018 at 9:08 | comment | added | Carlos Chida | Consider the example given here: ‘available in either black or white’ . It is available in both colours not only in one. Whether you choose it in only one is different. | |
| Mar 1, 2018 at 0:59 | comment | added | Scott - Слава Україні | No, it’s not true that I must say “it will rain or it will be warm but not both.” Saying “either it will rain or it will be warm” (or “it will either rain or be warm”) is equivalent. Ending the sentence with “but not both” is optional in this case. | |
| Feb 26, 2018 at 12:41 | comment | added | Carlos Chida | Consider 'it will rain or it will be warm' the events are not mutually exclusive. You must say 'it will rain or it will be warm but not both.' Starting the sentence with 'either' is optional in this case. | |
| Feb 26, 2018 at 6:39 | comment | added | Scott - Слава Україні | Well, be fair. You have two things in bold: “either A or B but not both” and “one of A and B … and/but only one.” As I discuss in my answer, “either A or B” is probably the best way to express the thought, but that’s not what the question asks. If your answer to the question is “(one of) A or B and/but only one”, then you should say so in your answer — but I believe that you can’t treat “one of” as a parenthetical. As in my example, “One of the team will be promoted to team leader.”, you can’t just omit “One of” and say “the team will be promoted to team leader.” | |
| Feb 26, 2018 at 6:23 | comment | added | Carlos Chida | ‘(Either) A or B but not both’ is my point as stated in bold. Alternatively ‘(one of) A or B and/but only one’ would also be correct and precise. | |
| Feb 25, 2018 at 18:40 | comment | added | Scott - Слава Україні | So, are you saying that the answer to the question is “exactly one of A and B”? I’m asking because I’m having trouble finding your bottom line. | |
| Feb 23, 2018 at 18:51 | history | answered | Carlos Chida | CC BY-SA 3.0 |