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Anonymous Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

Earlier of - use and, or use or

Would I write "the earlier of x or y" or would I write
"the earlier of x and y"? (I realize that with either choice, some
readers will think I am wrong. Thus, I write my way around it.
However, I am curious which is correct.) Thank you.
  

Top answer

Anonymous Would I write "the earlier of x or y" or would I write "the earlier of x and y"? I don't think either is incorrect . " But I often struggle with the "and/or" choice in certain situations, and, like you, try to avoid it.

— Avangi

  • Anonymous Would I write "the earlier of x or y" or would I write "the earlier of x and y"?
  • I don't think either is incorrect .
  • " But I often struggle with the "and/or" choice in certain situations, and, like you, try to avoid it.
  • Sorry I can't give you a definitive answer.
  • ) - A.
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2 Answers
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AnonymousWould I write "the earlier of x or y" or would I write "the earlier of x and y"?
I don't think either is incorrect.

I'm one who prefers "and."

But I often struggle with the "and/or" choice in certain situations, and, like you, try to avoid it.

Sorry I can't give you a definitive answer. (I'll say positively that "th
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Thank you. I agree that "and" is logically correct. My thinking is that
"and" defines the set from which the earlier event is to be chosen,
and the set consists of BOTH x and y. I have not been able to find
an "answer" to this in a usage text, so I don't know whether you and
I are correct or not. Again, however, it does not matter, as we both
use work-arounds.
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