and/or

[ and-awr ]

conjunction

1. (used to imply that either or both of the things mentioned may be affected or involved):

   insurance covering fire and/or wind damage.

and/or

conjunction

1. coordinating used to join terms when either one or the other or both is indicated

   passports and/or other means of identification

Usage Note

The combination and/or is used primarily in business and legal writing: All dwellings and/or other structures on the property are included in the contract. Because of these business and legal associations, some object to the use of this combination in general writing, where it occasionally occurs: She spends much of her leisure time entertaining and/or traveling. In such writing, either and or or is usually adequate. If a greater distinction is needed, another phrasing is available: Would you like cream or sugar, or both?

Usage

Many people think that and/or is only acceptable in legal and commercial contexts. In other contexts, it is better to use or both: some alcoholics lose their jobs or their driving licences or both (not their jobs and/or their driving licences )

Idioms and Phrases

Both or either of two options. For example, His use of copyrighted material shows that the writer is careless and/or dishonest . This idiom originated in legal terminology of the mid-1800s.

Example Sentences

“It is not a neutral stance when one group is allowed to express their political views ... and the other side is silenced under threat of losing their job and/or being seriously reprimanded,” she wrote.

From Los Angeles Times

You and/or your ancestors didn’t die of dysentery.

From Slate

They love it so much they have reportedly owned and/or flipped at least 21 properties there.

From Los Angeles Times

Second, although the House Ethics report that is currently being kept from public view absolutely can and should be released, let’s not get sucked into the fallacy that the Senate will not have and/or cannot obtain enough information regarding allegations of Gaetz’s alleged wrongdoing to make an informed decision about his fitness for public office.

From Slate

The lenders are currently finalising proposals for a restructuring of the company which would involve them taking a discount on the money they are owed, bringing in new operational expertise, and exploring the possibility of a break up and or public listing of the company.

From BBC