Timeline for Is the word "or" used to always describe two different things?
Current License: CC BY-SA 4.0
5 events
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| Jan 13, 2023 at 21:55 | comment | added | John Lawler | Well, the English conjunction or is ill-defined, as @Edwin says, because it can represent the well-defined "inclusive" Logical OR (TTTF) or the "exclusive" Logical XOR (FTTF) without further morphology. It may be distinguished in context (coffee or tea?) or it simply may be irrelevant, but the decision is a pragmatic one, not a semantic one. | |
| Jan 12, 2023 at 15:17 | comment | added | Andrew Leach♦ | Actually the answer to "Would you like tea or coffee?" is "Yes please!" (Reference) | |
| Jan 12, 2023 at 15:14 | comment | added | Stuart F | "Would you like tea or coffee?" implies the person will only choose one, but when asked "Would you like something to eat or drink?" you can choose both. So much is dependent on context and convention. | |
| Jan 12, 2023 at 13:04 | comment | added | Edwin Ashworth | Essentially, 'or' is ill-defined, with conflicting usages. I usually use / when I want 'only A, only B, or both A and B' as people are more aware of the loose usage. It also allows the possibility 'perhaps B describes the situation better than A', as 'or' probably does. | |
| Jan 12, 2023 at 11:55 | history | answered | Andrew Leach♦ | CC BY-SA 4.0 |