word choice - Alternatives to "and/or"?


As a programmer, I have no problem with seeing or using "and/or" in technical documentation. For example,



I can upvote an answer that satisfies me and/or mark it as accepted.



That's perfectly good English to me. However, if I were writing a novel, or even just an essay, or — heaven forbid — a poem, "and/or" would seem extremely out of place.


My question is, what should I be using instead? (I solemnly swear I will not use that knowledge to actually write a poem.)



Answer



Here are a few alternatives to the example you provided that avoid the stroke (forward slash). Pick whichever one you like!




  1. I can upvote an answer that satisfies me, mark it as accepted, or do both.

  2. I can do either or both of up-voting and marking as accepted the answer that satisfies me.

  3. I can do either or both of up-voting the answer that satisfies me and marking it as accepted.



They are all grammatically correct, though perhaps 2. and 3. are a bit more convoluted, for the sake of logical clarity.


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