or both

USAGE SUMMARY

'or both' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to refer to two things, or sets of things, at the same time. For example: "You can buy a red car or a blue car, or both."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

33 human-written examples

Or both.

The New York Times

Either, or both.

The Economist

Group, Page or Both?

The New York Times

LANE: Or both, yes.

The New Yorker

Politics, fashion or both?

The New York Times

Promoter, Manager or Both?

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

14 human-written examples

Or, perhaps, both.

The New York Times - Sports

Or, probably, both.

The Economist

Or possibly both.

The New York Times - Arts

Or indeed both.

BBC

Or, sometimes both.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "or both" to clearly indicate that either option, or both options together, are acceptable or possible. This avoids ambiguity when a choice isn't strictly exclusive.

Common error

Avoid using "or both" when the context already clearly implies that both options are possible. Redundancy can make your writing seem less concise and professional.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "or both" functions as a conjunction, connecting two options and explicitly indicating that the combination of those options is also a valid possibility. This clarifies potential ambiguity, as Ludwig AI also highlights, by affirming that either one, the other, or both choices are acceptable.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Wiki

25%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "or both" serves as a conjunction used to present inclusive choices, indicating that either of two options, or their combination, is acceptable. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and suitable for use in diverse writing contexts. It's particularly common in news and media, as well as in wikis, where clarity and comprehensiveness are essential. While straightforward and frequently used, remember to avoid redundancy by only using "or both" when the context doesn't already make it clear that both options are possible. Alternative phrases like "and/or" can offer more succinct alternatives depending on the specific situation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

one or the other, or both

This alternative specifies the options with more detail, emphasizing the possibility of one, the other, or a combination.

and/or

This alternative employs a symbol to indicate that one, the other, or both options are possible.

one, the other, or a combination

This alternative is descriptive, specifying the choices in a detailed manner.

whether one or both

This alternative emphasizes a consideration of both separate and combined options.

either or

This alternative is a more general phrase indicating a choice between two options, but does not explicitly include the possibility of both.

the former, the latter, or both

This alternative is specific to contexts where two items have already been established.

potentially both

This alternative introduces a degree of uncertainty regarding the selection of both options.

a combination of the two

This alternative refers to the selection of both options, expressed as a combined entity.

it could be either, or both

This alternative contains the phrase "it could be" expressing the possibilities.

any or all

This alternative indicates that any single option or all options together are acceptable.

FAQs

How can I use "or both" in a sentence?

Use "or both" when you want to indicate that either of two options is acceptable, as well as the possibility of both together. For example, "You can choose tea or coffee, "or both"."

What's a succinct alternative to "or both"?

In some contexts, the symbol "and/or" can replace "or both" to save space and clearly indicate the inclusion of both possibilities.

Is it always necessary to explicitly state "or both"?

No, in many cases, it's implied that both options are possible. Only use "or both" when clarity is crucial or the possibility of both options needs emphasis.

What's the difference between "either or" and "or both"?

"Either or" generally implies a choice between two mutually exclusive options. "Or both" specifies that one, the other, or both options are permissible. Consider using "one or the other, or both" when there are more than 2 possibilities.