Re: "either"

Subject: Re: "either"
From: Bill Burns <WBURNS -at- VAX -dot- MICRON -dot- COM>
Date: Thu, 19 Jan 1995 09:54:04 MDT

Ray wrote:

>"Entries either are alphanumeric strings, such as usernames
passwords; or a choice between several preset strings,
such as enabled or disabled."

I agree with Ray that "either" needs to appear after the verb since the verb
acts for both the first and second clauses. I would also remove the semicolon
since the use of a comma here is conventionally correct. In fact, the sentence
might work better if the interrupting phrase appeared in parentheses:

"Entries are either alphanumeric strings (such as usernames or
passwords) or a choice between several preset strings (such as enabled
or disabled).

In any case, the interrupting elements should be enclosed in either parentheses
or commas. The use of the semicolon suggests that an independent clause
follows, which is not the case here.


Bill Burns *
Assm. Technical Writer/Editor * "Purgamentum init,
Micron Technology, Inc. * exit purgamentum."
Boise, ID *
WBURNS -at- VAX -dot- MICRON -dot- COM * Henricus Barbatus


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