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Say I have three options (or choices if prefer) , A,B and C but one must decide on either A or later having the option of B and C (you cannot choose B or C straight away, only decide that you don't want A, initially) Such that we have:

A or (B or C)

Even though at the end of the day our options are A or B or C. is there a way to represent this in a single concise statement like: 'A or B/C' for example?

Does language like 'or' take two arguments and have orders of operations like the equivalent boolean function for 'or'?

Can we represent multiple options being made as two choices in this way?

We decide between A and (B or C) and then decide between B or C.

Is this possible? Or does language not give us the ability to imply a sort of 'order of operation' essentially treating 'or' similar to an operator, for something like this? Or do we have to rely on expressing it explicitly.

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  • Is A actually a Yes/No choice, then comes the B/C choice?
    – Yosef Baskin
    Commented Apr 27, 2022 at 18:40
  • it is a selection, you 'choose' option A, or you choose between B/C later think of it like courses at college, one has a single major (A), the other has a choice of two majors (B or C)
    – user443414
    Commented Apr 27, 2022 at 19:15
  • You did not specify how concise the expression has to be that you are looking for. One can easily express the idea in a couple of sentences, as you have yourself done in the question. There is, however, no way of doing it in a natural language, that can at the same time match the clarity and the conciseness that can be accomplished by logical notation.
    – jsw29
    Commented Apr 27, 2022 at 20:12
  • Look at the example I have given 'A or B/C' I'm asking really is there a concise way that is similar to treating 'or' like an operator
    – user443414
    Commented Apr 27, 2022 at 20:20
  • @jsw29 would you consider 'A or B/C' as implying that there is a choice before another choice between B and C?
    – user443414
    Commented Apr 27, 2022 at 20:23

2 Answers 2

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"Choose A. Otherwise, choose B or C."

Cambridge
otherwise:
used after an order or suggestion to show what the result will be if you do not follow that order or suggestion:

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  • 2
    Correct and Concise. I have added the definition of otherwise so as to support the answer.
    – Anton
    Commented Apr 28, 2022 at 6:54
  • This will likely be understood to mean that A is the option recommended by the author, that there would be something undesirable about putting oneself in the situation in which one has to choose between B and C (note the words 'order or suggestion' in the quoted definition).
    – jsw29
    Commented Apr 28, 2022 at 15:58
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If you reject A, then options B and C become available.

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