Beta or Delta variant

[emp0608]

Hi folks,
Which do you think is better "Beta or Delta variant" or "Beta or Delta variants"?

 

[Rover_KE]

As always, please write a full sentence containing one of the phrases in question.

 

[emp0608]

Here are two sentences I've picked up from the Internet:
They analysed 36,000 suspected reinfections, comparing them across previous waves of the Beta or Delta variant.
The study also found that the spread of the Beta or Delta variants was due to increased transmissibility, rather than immune escape.
I think grammatically we should use the singular form but the plural form seems to be starting to prevail.

 

[jutfrank]

I can't make sense of either sentence. I can't see how the word or is right in either sentence. If instead the writers meant to say and, then the plural form variants is correct.

 

[emp0608]

How about the following sentence? "Since the staff parking lot is closed over the weekend, please use either the visitor or student parking lot." Should I use "lot" or "lots" in this case?

 

[SoothingDave]

Lots

 

[Tdol]

They are different variants, but I have the same misgivings as Jutfrank about or.

 

[Tdol]

How about the following sentence? "Since the staff parking lot is closed over the weekend, please use either the visitor or student parking lot." Should I use "lot" or "lots" in this case?

Are they one and the same parking area or somehow separate?

 

[emp0608]

They are two different parking areas.

 

[jutfrank]

How about the following sentence? "Since the staff parking lot is closed over the weekend, please use either the visitor or student parking lot." Should I use "lot" or "lots" in this case?

I'm surprised SoothingDave disagrees, but I think only the singular lot is correct there. I teach it like this:

Please use either the visitor [parking lot] or [the] student parking lot.
Please use either of the visitor or student parking lots.

 

[probus]

I'm with SoothingDave on this, illogical though the usage may seem. Perhaps it's a BrE/AmE difference.