11

(1) In this question on math.SE a question about the meaning of 'either' before a list which ends with 'and'. The meaning of

either a, b, c, or d

is from this answer sort of clear in that it means a or b or c or d. Even if or can mean all included, the either seems to indicate an exclusivity. so exactly one of them. But what does

either a, b, c, and d

mean? Is this even current English?

(2) in the same question there is the question about what

any one of a, b, c, and d

means. So I would also like to know what

any one of a, b, c, or d

means?

| improve this question | | | | |
  • 1
    Why the downvote? – Thomas Jun 6 '12 at 0:29
13

Yes, you're right that the correlative conjunction either ... or ... is simply a summation of successive or's -- either ... or ... or ... or ..., with only the last or obligatory. Same thing without either, except that then it's not clear that this is disjunction with or, instead of conjunction with and (which is more common, and unmarked). But if you start the list with either you don't need to include and stress or all the time.

Either ... and ..., on the other hand, is simply wrong, and probably just a typo if written.

The answer to the second question is that

  • any one of a, b, c, and d is mathspeak for any (or some) member of the set [a, b, c, d]

while

  • any one of a, b, c, or d is not mathspeak, but simple enumeration, with "free-choice" any.
| improve this answer | | | | |
  • What do you mean by "free-choice" any? – Kartik Anand Jun 5 '12 at 19:39
  • 1
    There are at least two different uses of any in English. By far the more common is Negative Polarity any; but a different sense implies one may take a choice of some member of a set. NPI any requires a Negative environment, so it's rarely a subject, but free choice any is often a subject, e.g, "Anybody can learn English in just 10 weeks!" which asserts that a person picked at random can do this, which in turn implies that everyone can do this. Including oneself, one is sposta conclude. – John Lawler Jun 5 '12 at 20:08
  • 1
    I wouldn't read any one of to include or some of, regardless of conjunction; I would take the one to mean you have to pick just one. Any of, on the other hand, I would assume included the possibility of more than one, up to all. I'm not a mathematician, though. – 1006a Oct 7 '16 at 12:28
4

Your understanding of "either a, b, c or d" is correct. But with either, we never use and. Hence "either a, b, c and d" is incorrect.

"any one of a, b, c or d" means one among a, b, c, and d.

"any one of a, b, c and d" seems vague.

| improve this answer | | | | |
4

I'm a mathematician, and I'd just like to confirm that, although some of us have a reputation for mangling the English language, I've never encountered the "either ... and ..." mangling before. I'm inclined to assume it's just a typo.

| improve this answer | | | | |
2

either a, b, c, and d

This means that possible combinations include ad, bd, and cd.

either a, b, c, or d
any one of a, b, c, or d

Both of these mean that the possibilities are limited to a, b, c, or d.

| improve this answer | | | | |
  • 1
    Yes, that was how I initially had read it. I was figuring that the commas were instead of or, so we get one of a, b, c in combination (and) with d. – Thomas Jun 5 '12 at 19:45
  • 6
    If it truly means what you say, then I would suggest repunctuating: either a, b, or c; and d – J.R. Jun 5 '12 at 20:30

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.