How I avoid ambiguity in the use of "and"? [duplicate]

How do I avoid ambiguity in the use of "and"?

For example, the phrase:

"demonstrative pronoun and adjective"

could mean both pronoun and adjective are demonstrative, or it could mean only demonstrative is for pronoun.

Is there a way to write this where the ambiguity is avoided?

Solution 1:

You're correct that "adjective noun_1 and noun_2" on its own is ambiguous.

One approach to eliminate ambiguity when the adjective applies to both nouns is to distribute it:

adjective noun_1 and adjective noun_2

Some approaches to eliminate ambiguity when the adjective doesn't apply to both nouns are to add an article:

a(n)/the adjective noun_1 and a(n)/the noun_2

or to numbers the nouns:

(1) adjective noun_1 and (2) noun_2

or to place them on different lines:

adjective noun_1; and

noun_2

or (if possible) to reorder the list:

noun_2 and adjective noun_1