When does “either” mean “both”?
When “either” follows the word “than” in a comparison, as in “X is later than either Y or Z,” it’s implied that “either” refers to “one and the other” of two things, Y and Z.
In other words, “X is later than either Y or Z” means “X is later than Y, and X is later than Z.”
Why is it necessarily wrong to interpret “either” as “one or the other” in that context?
In other words, why can’t “X is later than either Y or Z” possibly mean “X is later than Y, or X is later than Z”?
Top answer
” Yes, unambiguously. abigailmb Why is it necessarily wrong to interpret “either” as “one or the other” in that context? Because that's how English is, because English is not Boolean algebra, and because "or" defaults to inclusive.
- ” Yes, unambiguously.
- abigailmb Why is it necessarily wrong to interpret “either” as “one or the other” in that context?
- Because that's how English is, because English is not Boolean algebra, and because "or" defaults to inclusive.
- abigailmb In other words, why can’t “X is later than either Y or Z” possibly mean “X is later than Y, or X is later than Z”?
- Because we instantly interpret it the other way and read on every time.
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abigailmbIn other words, “X is later than either Y or Z” means “X is later than Y, and X is later than Z.”
Yes, unambiguously.
abigailmbWhy is it necessarily wrong to interpret “either” as “one or the other” in that context?
Because that's how English is, because English is not Boolean algebra, and because "or" def
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