On: California Supreme Court Transforms the Test for Who Is an Employee

[icebraining]

Thanks, I'm not a native speaker, and I thought either/or was a xor.

[woqe → icebraining]

I think there is valid confusion to be had in interpreting this statement.

Usually, when a statement of "choose either x or y" is made, then the only valid options are exclusively x or exclusively y (None and Both are not valid).

Though, when the statement of "if either x or y then do action" is made, then the action is done with any of three valid options: x, y, or x and y (only None is not valid).

To change the second statement to mean the first, you could say "if only x or only y then do action." The "only" cancel Both as being an option.

[kbutler → icebraining]

Native speaker here.

Either-or does imply exclusive-or, but it is often used less formally, so you will sometimes see it made explicit as "either x or y, but not both."