Either...or - both...and

Question

Hello. What's the difference between these sentences?:

Either my mother or my father will pick me up.
My mother or my father will pick me up.

The ceremony was both long and tedious.
The ceremony was long and tedious.

MrPedantic · Accepted Answer

Hello Latin

1. Either my mother or my father will pick me up.
2. My mother or my father will pick me up.

3. The ceremony was both long and tedious.
4. The ceremony was long and tedious.

#1 adds a little more emphasis to the fact that there are alternatives.
#3 adds a little more emphasis to the fact that the ceremony has two undesirable qualities.

e.g.

1. 'The Worried Teacher'
'Is someone picking you up from school tonight, Tommy?'
'Yes, someone's picking me up. So no need to worry.'
'And who's picking you up? Your mother?'
'Just someone.'
'Your father?'
'I said, just someone.'
'Tommy, are you sure someone's picking you up?'
'Look, either my mother or my father will pick me up, OK? So quit worrying.'

2. 'The Not So Worried Teacher.'
'Is someone picking you up from school tonight, Tommy?'
'Yes, my mother or my father will be picking me up.'
'Fine. See you tomorrow.'

3. 'The Long and Tedious Ceremony.'
'So, how was your sister's "humanist wedding"?'
'It was OK.'
'Was the ceremony very long?'
'It was both long and tedious. But that's my sister all over.'

4. 'The Equally Long and Tedious Ceremony'
'So, how was your sister's wedding?'
'It was very long and very tedious. But at least I can have her bedroom now.'

MrP

Either...or - both...and

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