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word choice - Is “between __ or __” valid?


Today I heard somebody say:



This (technology) can be the difference between life or death.



And I winced.  While “life or death” can be used as an adjective (e.g., modifying “situation” or “decision”), I believe that “between X or Y” is wrong, because “between” should always be used with “and”. (Or an implied “and” , as in “between jobs”.)


Is “between X or Y” ever acceptable?



Answer



You are in good company in wincing at between ... or.


Garner in Modern American Usage (p103) calls the construction "a misuse that probably results from confusion between between ... and and either ... or."


Follett in Modern American Usage (p120) calls the combination of between and or "misguided".


Fowler in Modern English Usage (p57) states: "where terms are separately specified, the one and only right connexion between those terms is and."


As to whether the combination is ever acceptable, Fowler states;



Extenuating circumstances can be pleaded only when one or each of the terms is a compound and has its parts connected by and.



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