How to remove ambiguity due to having both an `and` and an `or` in a sentence

Question

I have two questions related to the following sentence.

I have an apple or an orange and a banana

First I would like to confirm that the sentence is ambiguous because it could mean one of the following

Second, I would like to remove the ambiguity by making it mean the former. What are some ways to do this?

Your way is fine. This has been covered here before; there is a trade-off between clarity and stylishness. — Edwin Ashworth, Nov 2, 2016 at 20:54
@EdwinAshworth Thanks. Can you link to a question that's covered this. — user103828, Nov 2, 2016 at 20:55
This calls for belt and suspenders - "I have either an apple or both an orange and banana." - Add either, add both and delete the a in front of banana. — Phil Sweet, Nov 2, 2016 at 21:19
Precedence of 'and' and 'or' covers some of the relevant material. A problem is that examples either get involved or sound like logic grade 1 lessons. Here, a comma in the right place disambiguates, but doesn't stop the sentence sounding ridiculous in normal conversation / looking ridiculous outside a class looking at logic. — Edwin Ashworth, Nov 2, 2016 at 21:19
Other threads (and these are proving hard to find) suggest shenanigans like 'You can have bacon & eggs or fish & chips, and peaches & cream.' If style is unimportant, brackets may be used as per the maths convention: (i) I have {an apple} or {an orange and a banana}. But in running text, workarounds are obviously better. I have either just an apple, or both an orange and a banana. — Edwin Ashworth, Nov 2, 2016 at 21:27

Drew · Accepted Answer · 2016-11-03 01:25:06Z

1

This is why English has either and both.

I have either an apple or both an orange and a banana.

answered Nov 3, 2016 at 1:25

Drew

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Just to wanted to also give credit to @PhilSweet who put ''I have either an apple or both an orange and banana'' as a possible solution in the comments above.
– user103828
Nov 4, 2016 at 6:39

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