and/or

[navi tasan]

Which are correct:

1-They didn't test and try their products.
2-They didn't test or try their products.
3-They didn't test, or try, their products.

4-If our products don't please and satisfy you, you can bring them back.
5-If our products don't please or satisfy you, you can bring them back.
6-If our products don't please, or satisfy, you, you can bring them back.

The words 'test' and 'try' are supposed to mean the same and so are the words 'please' and 'satisfy'.

[udara sankalpa]

Hi navi,
I'm a non native. But if those words mean the same, why not use one word i the first place?

They didn't test their products or They didn't try their products.

Similarly,
If our products don't satisfy you, you can bring them back.

I don't know, I would use one word if the meaning is the same.

cheers
udara

[bianca]

Which are correct:

1-They didn't test and try their products.
2-They didn't test or try their products.
3-They didn't test, or try, their products.

4-If our products don't please and satisfy you, you can bring them back.
5-If our products don't please or satisfy you, you can bring them back.
6-If our products don't please, or satisfy, you, you can bring them back.

The words 'test' and 'try' are supposed to mean the same and so are the words 'please' and 'satisfy'.

I will refer to the first set of sentences, since the same explanations apply for the 2nd one as well.

They didn't test and try their products is fine, but the meaning of this sentence differs from the 2nd and 3rd one. It basically means that they don't do these two procedures (both of them) simultaneously. The second one means: they neither tested, nor tried their products. However, the commas are not needed in the 3rd sentence since "or try" is not a break or a transitional phrase within the sentence like in:

Her name, I think, is Ellen.
Cows, of course, moo too. (sorry, I couldn't think of a better ex.)

bianca