0
DS Posted 10 years ago
Grammar
and/or expression
I was doing my IELTS listening practise and became confused when I came across the instructions: "Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR NUMBERS," can someone help me understand the NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND NUMBERS part? does that mean you can write in 3 words and 3 numbers, or in a total of 3 words including the numders?
Top answer
'And/or' is famously confusing, and many grammarians say the term should be abandoned. DS Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR NUMBERS It means a total of three, whether they are words or numbers.
- 'And/or' is famously confusing, and many grammarians say the term should be abandoned.
- DS Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR NUMBERS It means a total of three, whether they are words or numbers.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
5 Answers
0
'And/or' is famously confusing, and many grammarians say the term should be abandoned.
DSWrite NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR NUMBERSIt means a total of three, whether they are words or numbers.
00
Thanks Mister Micawber, but i just checked the answer key and it says "between 9 and 9:30," that's a total of four words, could it be wrong? And what if the instruction says NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER? Should I write a maxium of two words and one number, or just one word plus one number?
00
DSbetween 9 and 9:30Yes, that's 4 terms, one term too many.
DS And what if the instruction says NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER?Again, there is no point in using the term. Would it be two words plus a number?— or just two words?— or one word plus one number?— or just one number? There is no definitive answer; henc
00
I think I didnt make my point clear maybe its because of the subjuct i chose for this post, that was a mistake, I WAS NOT trying to discuss the use of and/or here, my apology here.
Now allow me to rephase the question:
a) does NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND NUMBERS mean you're allowed to write a maximum of 3 words + 3 numbers, or 3 words(be it words or numbers)?
and b) if in a) the corr
Now allow me to rephase the question:
a) does NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND NUMBERS mean you're allowed to write a maximum of 3 words + 3 numbers, or 3 words(be it words or numbers)?
and b) if in a) the corr
00
DSNO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND NUMBERSI read it as three things in total; otherwise, they should have said 'three words and three numbers'. As it is, it is ambiguous at best.
0
Related Questions