RE: And Or

["Lauren" <lt34 -at- csus -dot- edu>]

I was taught that if "and" is required, then use "and" and if "or" is an
option, then use "or" because a requirement cannot also be an option.  If
both "and" and "or" are options, then I was taught to write, "use 1 or 2 or
both."  Perhaps, "[...] both 1 and 2" would read better for some people.  

"And/or" falls into the same category as "he/she."  Combining words with a
"/" unprofessional because there are no such words as "andor" or "heshe" and
readers tend to read the combined words as single words.

Lauren
 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: techwr-l-bounces+lt34=csus -dot- edu -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com 
> [mailto:techwr-l-bounces+lt34=csus -dot- edu -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On 
> Behalf Of Ben
> Sent: Monday, June 18, 2007 4:39 PM
> To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> Subject: And Or
> 
> I apologize if this has been discussed already, but using the phrase
> "and/or" to mean the inclusion of all or any combination of 
> items, including
> only one item in a given list just doesn't seem right to 
> me-though I see it
> everywhere. Is that phrase commonly accepted in tech writing? 
> What do you
> purists say? Thanks!
> 
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