We use or after the negative form of a verb, instead of and. Compare When we connect two or more nouns using or, we use a singular verb with singular nouns, and a plural verb with plural countable nouns: A banjo or a mandolin is what we need. (singular nouns)
How do you use or in a sentence?
[M] [T] You must decide whether you will go by train or by plane. [M] [T] Do you spend more time with your friends or with your family? [M] [T] I haven't decided yet whether I'll go to college or get a job. [M] [T] She was asked to convince him to get his son or someone else to paint the house.
What is the rule for using or?
The answer depends on how you are using or. Always place a comma before or when it begins an independent clause, but if it begins a dependent clause, don't. In a series (or list) of three or more items, you can use a comma before or, but this is a preference, not a rule.
Do we put comma after or?
Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, for, nor, yet, so) that connects two complete sentences (independent clauses). Use a comma after an introductory element (like a dependent clause or a long phrase) to make the sentence easier to read.
How do you use and/or in writing?
Please do not use "and/or" in either formal or informal writing. In common English, the "or" is a "non-exclusive or" which means "either A or B, or A and B". When I say "I can have a banana OR I can have coffee" then I am also OK with having both.
Does comma go before or after however?
However at the Beginning of a Sentence Put a comma after however if you're using it as a conjunctive adverb to introduce a contrast, and it is followed by an independent clause (a clause that could be used as a complete sentence).
Can you start a sentence with or?
It's perfectly fine to begin a sentence with a conjunction, such as or, but, and or so. Most experts think the made-up rule stemmed from an oversimplification; it was easier to tell children never to do something than to teach them grammatical intricacies.
Is or a conjunction?
Or is a conjunction that connects two or more possibilities or alternatives. It connects words, phrases and clauses which are the same grammatical type: Which do you prefer?
Does a semicolon mean or?
A semicolon separates two independent but related clauses; it may also replace the comma to separate items in a complicated list. Check out our guide on how and when to use semicolons.
What are the 8 rules for commas?
Commas (Eight Basic Uses)Use a comma to separate independent clauses. ... Use a comma after an introductory clause or phrase. ... Use a comma between all items in a series. ... Use commas to set off nonrestrictive clauses. ... Use a comma to set off appositives. ... Use a comma to indicate direct address. ... Use commas to set off direct quotations.More items...
Does or mean both?
Sometimes “or” means “or, but not both,” sometimes it simply means“and,” and sometimes, it means “and/or.” Context will tell you which meaning is intended and let me save you a lot of trouble and tell you right now that the meaning that the LSAT summons most often is “and/or.” That's why we included “or” as a Group 3 ...
Do you put a slash between and or?
Forward slashes are also used to separate the words "and" and "or" (and/or) when they are used side by side in writing.
What is a better way to say and or?
What is another word for or?andwithor alsoplusand alsoin addition toas well asalong withtogether with
Examples
Following are examples of some common nested IF (AND ()), IF (OR ()) and IF (NOT ()) statements. The AND and OR functions can support up to 255 individual conditions, but it’s not good practice to use more than a few because complex, nested formulas can get very difficult to build, test and maintain. The NOT function only takes one condition.
Using AND, OR and NOT with Conditional Formatting
You can also use AND, OR and NOT to set Conditional Formatting criteria with the formula option. When you do this you can omit the IF function and use AND, OR and NOT on their own.
Need more help?
You can always ask an expert in the Excel Tech Community or get support in the Answers community.
What does "and/or" mean in English?
and/or is as official as English gets in the sense that you can use it in extremely formal contexts. There is typically a better way to say whatever is being said but it does convey a specific meaning. You should use and/or when both options are applicable in its place. "I would like cake and/or pie" means "I would like one or both ...
Why do you say "cake" and "pie"?
"I would like cake and/or pie" means "I would like one or both of the following: cake; pie.". The main reason for using and/or is to remove the ambiguity ...
Why do we use "and/or"?
The main reason for using and/or is to remove the ambiguity of whether and means "only both" and whether or means "only one.". And/or explicitly means "it could be one of these or both of these.".
When to use "a" and "b"?
EDIT: To strictly answer the question, you should use A and B when you explicitly mean both A and B, and you should use A and/or B when you mean A or B (or both). In response to a request for pronunciation, I typically treat the / as a hyphen and simply say "and or".
Is there an official English?
There is no official English: English is what its speakers make of it. That said, and/or is terrible English. It should be avoided, and people who use it should be made fun of. It exists because there are three ways to use the words and and or: Eat your peas and carrots.
What is the purpose of punctuation in a sentence?
Punctuation to elaborate or clarify. When you need to elaborate on a thought or clarify your meaning, you need punctuation to encase your little sojourn in your explanation. You can choose parentheses or brackets.
How to use ellipsis?
Ellipsis is yet another punctuation mark with multiple uses. It can be used: 1 To show that words have been omitted. Example: Four score and seven years ago… begins one of the most famous speeches of all time. 2 To build suspense. Example: And the winner is… drumroll, please… Jake Flemming! 3 To indicate trailing off. Example: Well, I guess I just thought that… I don’t know…
What is an ellipsis?
Ellipsis is yet another punctuation mark with multiple uses. It can be used: To show that words have been omitted. Example: Four score and seven years ago… begins one of the most famous speeches of all time. To build suspense. Example: And the winner is… drumroll, please…. Jake Flemming!
How does a semicolon work?
A semicolon joins two complete sentences into one sentence. This is similar to using a coordinating conjunction to join two complete sentences into one, but it allows you to drop the conjunction completely.
What is a comma in punctuation?
Comma (,) Commas are one of the most versatile and useful bits of punctuation. There are tons of extended rules for comma use, but here are the basic uses: To address someone directly. Example: It was nice working with you, Sam. To use with coordinating conjunctions to join two complete sentences into one compound sentence.
Why do we use quotation marks?
Quotation marks are for more than just quotes. There are several reasons to employ quotation marks, but here are the most common: To mark the exact words someone said. Novelists use quotation marks for dialogue, and journalists use quotation marks when they quote experts or historical figures. Example: According to Mark Twain, “Travel is fatal ...
When to use parentheses?
Parentheses are used when your thought requires a bit of expansion to be better understood. Example: My sister (who grew up in Los Angeles) has no idea how to deal with the Illinois winters. Interesting side note: You can also use a set of commas in place of each parenthesis.
What is the difference between a semicolon and a comma?
The semicolon is the colon's quirkier sibling. While the colon is simply two dots stacked : the semicolon is a dot hovering over a comma ; The semicolon does jobs that are also done by other punctuation marks, but puts its own spin on the task. Like a comma, it can separate elements in a series.
What is a semicolon master?
You too can become a semicolon master! Semicolons (;) separate independent clauses that are related in meaning, and they separate items in a list when those items themselves are long or include commas. For example, this summary could say "Semicolons are useful; they show that clauses are related in meaning.".
When to use a semicolon?
A semicolon is used in place of a comma to separate phrases or items in a list or series when the phrases or items themselves contain commas or are especially long:
Does Harry give Mabel an apron?
Note that, unlike commas and periods, a semicolon that punctuates the larger sentence is placed outside quotation marks and parentheses: For her birthday, Harry gave Mabel an apron that said "Number 1 Cook"; Mabel cordially accepted it but has yet to wear it.
Does a comma replace a semicolon?
In short sentences, a comma often replaces the semicolon: Mabel's cooking prowess, honed through years of complex feasts, was formidable; the interruption of its application ill-advised. The scent of the baking bread was sublime, the perfume of the goulash intoxicating.
Why do people use commas?
Sometimes people seem frustrated because they have to remember to use commas with coordinating conjunctions and semicolons with conjunctive adverbs most of the time. If you can't keep the difference straight in your head, it can help to remember that commas are smaller than semicolons and go with coordinating conjunctions, which are almost always short two- or three-letter words—small words, small punctuation mark.
Why do you use a semicolon instead of a period?
Semicolons Create Variety. One reason you might choose to use a semicolon instead of a period is if you wanted to add variety to your sentence structure; for example, you might use a semicolon if you thought you had too many short, choppy sentences in a row.
Why do we use semicolons in sentences?
Another reason to use a semicolon is to draw attention to how related your two clauses are. The semicolon in our example sentence highlights that the reason you can't go out tonight is that you have a big test tomorrow. You wouldn't write, “English is my fifth period class; I can't go out tonight,” because those two main clauses have nothing to do with each other. I can't think of a single reason why English being fifth period would mean you can't go out tonight.
What is a semicolon?
Most commonly, they separate two main clauses that are closely related to each other but could stand on their own as sentences if you wanted them to.
When to use a semicolon with a conjunction?
First, if you have a long sentence with multiple independent clauses, and some of those clauses contain internal punctuation such as a comma, you can use a semicolon with a coordinating conjunction to make the separation between clauses more clear. Here's an example:
When to use semicolons?
Finally, you use a semicolon when you use a conjunctive adverb or transitional phrase to join two main clauses. Conjunctive adverbs are words such as “ however ,” “therefore,” and “indeed.”. Here's an example of how you could use them with semicolons:
Can you use a semicolon with a coordinating conjunction?
Semicolons and Coordinating Conjunctions. You should never use a semicolon and a coordinating conjunction such as “and,” “so,” and “but” to join two main clauses; that's the job of a comma. If you want to use a coordinating conjunction, you'd write it like this:
Why do we use colons in prose?
In the running prose that we encounter in books, magazines, articles, and the like, colons are mostly used to introduce a clause or a phrase that explains, illustrates, amplifies, or restates what precedes them. (Reminder: clauses and phrases are both groups of words within a sentence; the basic difference between them is ...
What is a colon in writing?
Colons (:) introduce clauses or phrases that serve to describe, amplify, or restate what precedes them. Often they are used to introduce a quote or a list that satisfies the previous statement. For example, this summary could be written as "Colons can introduce many things: descriptors, quotes, lists, and more.".
What is an appositive colon?
A colon can also introduce something that acts as an appositive. (Reminder: An appositive is a noun or noun phrase that refers to the same thing as another noun or noun phrase in the same sentence, and is usually right next to that other noun or noun phrase, like in "my neighbor the doctor.". The two nouns/noun phrases—in this case "my neighbor" ...
What is the mark of introduction?
It's typically a mark of introduction, used to let the reader know that what follows the colon has been pointed to or described by what precedes the colon. (This is quite a different function from that of the semicolon, which is mostly used to separate two independent sentence parts that are related in meaning.)
Is "dry fur" a noun?
The noun phrase "dry fur" is in apposition to the "one thing" noun phrase on the other side of the colon. "But Mabel," Harry pressed, "isn't the crux of it all in truth this: an umbrella is a collapsible shield for protection against weather generally?".
Is a colon capitalized?
Note that what follow s the colon is not capitalized, but it could be. As a clause—it has its own subject and verb and could in fact function alone as its own sentence, albeit a sentence of the question variety—it certainly looks like something that can start with a capital letter, but whether it does or not is simply a matter of style.
How to use semicolons in a sentence?
Rules for Using Semicolons 1 A semicolon is most commonly used to link (in a single sentence) two independent clauses that are closely related in thought. When a semicolon is used to join two or more ideas (parts) in a sentence, those ideas are then given equal position or rank.#N#Some people write with a word processor; others write with a pen or pencil. 2 Use a semicolon between two independent clauses that are connected by conjunctive adverbs or transitional phrases.#N#However they choose to write, people are allowed to make their own decisions; as a result, many people swear by their writing methods. 3 Use a semicolon between items in a list or series if any of the items contain commas.#N#There are basically two ways to write: with a pen or pencil, which is inexpensive and easily accessible; or by computer and printer, which is more expensive but quick and neat. 4 Use a semicolon between independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction if the clauses are already punctuated with commas or if the clauses are lengthy.#N#Some people write with a word processor, tablet, or even a phone; but others, for different reasons, choose to write with a pen or pencil.
When to use semicolon?
A semicolon is most commonly used to link (in a single sentence) two independent clauses that are closely related in thought. When a semicolon is used to join two or more ideas (parts) in a sentence, those ideas are then given equal position or rank.
Do you use a semicolon between items in a list?
Use a semicolon between items in a list or series if any of the items contain commas.