Are/Is either or both of the following, redox reactions?

[sitifan]

Are either or both of the following, redox reactions? (My bold.)

Source: Chemistry With Inorganic Qualitative Analysis, Second Edition, page 487.
https://www.grammar-monster.com/lessons/either_or_plural_or_singular_verb.htm

Can I use "is" instead of "are" in the above quotation?

 

[Tarheel]

It's seems to me that it's two different questions. (See below.)

Are either of them redox reactions?

Are both of them redox reactions?

Why in the world would you want to use "is" there?

 

[sitifan]

https://editorsmanual.com/articles/either-is-or-either-are/

Summary​

Either, which refers to each of two things, is grammatically singular. In formal contexts, use singular verbs like is and has with either (either of them is acceptable). In informal usage, either may refer to not just one of two things but to both things at once and can therefore take either a singular or a plural verb (either of these is/are fine). In either-or constructions, the verb used should agree with the part closest to it (either the detective or the witnesses are mistaken; either the witnesses or the detective is mistaken).

 

[Tarheel]

I don't understand why you posted that to me. Are you explaining to me how to use "either" and "neither"?

I've been speaking the language for a long time. (I'm 73.) Either I know how to use it by now or I don't.

 

[SoothingDave]

No.

Are either or both of the following, redox reactions? (My bold.)

Source: Chemistry With Inorganic Qualitative Analysis, Second Edition, page 487.
https://www.grammar-monster.com/lessons/either_or_plural_or_singular_verb.htm

Can I use "is" instead of "are" in the above quotation?

No. It sounds completely wrong with "is."

 

[sitifan]

No. It sounds completely wrong with "is."

In post #1, "either" means one or the other, but not both.
I think the original question is the combination of the following two questions.
Is either of them a redox reaction? Or are both of them redox reactions?

 

[Tarheel]

Is either of them a redox reaction?

That would be okay.

 

[jutfrank]

In post #1, "either" means one or the other, but not both.

Is there a really a comma in that sentence? The comma is wrong.

I think the original question is the combination of the following two questions.
Is either of them a redox reaction? Or are both of them redox reactions?

Yes, that's what it's supposed to mean.

 

[Tarheel]

[A]re both of them redox reactions?

That would be okay too.

 

[5jj]

I've been speaking the language for a long time. (I'm 73.) Either I know how to use it by now or I don't.

Not all native speakers use their language in the same way, and there are points of usage that some of us disagree on.