such as A and B OR such as A or B
When is it okay to use "or" instead of "and" with "such as"? Been researching this for a while but haven't found a convincing answer.
Considering "such as" is used to give examples, don't we restrict the examples by saying "or"? And if "or" is more apt, why not directly say A, B, or C instead of using "such as"?
The software sends automated emails triggered by certain actions or events such as birthdays and/or anniversaries.
Which would be the correct choice?
The only resources I could find are: https://forum.oxforddictionaries.com/en/discussion/27/such-as-or-or-and?fbclid=IwAR1-lLoJh73PHhdC1FlNbSPeK0TNo5xgCZz3FvGmQtmJ_WGo76DDapU8m8M
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/grammar/british-grammar/such-as?fbclid=IwAR3IawzuEXTjsjfBnwv-hv1w9EUcJWPlODfupOM2sMdZ8KCX86qa-gBJeqo
The general difference is and is inclusive and or is exclusive.
With nouns:
When the subject of object is A and B or A or B and A and B are nouns, e.g. “You can have A and/or B”, and indicates “both A as well as B”, whereas or indicates either A or B but not both.
You can have an apple and an orange. – You can take two fruit. You can have an apple or an orange. – You can take one fruit.
With verbs:
When and is used to address verbs, the actions of both verbs may be applied to the object. And also states that both actions are possible.
You can fry eggs and boil them. This is advice for eggs in general - the action of both verbs is possible.
When or is used to address verbs (choices of the action applied to one object), or states that only one of the actions is possible.
“Here is an egg. You can fry it or boil it,” i.e. you can do one of the actions but not both - you cannot fry it and then boil it.
EDIT TO ADD
Such as = for example. What follows is a list that contains examples in apposition to a previously mentioned noun or action. Thus we can simplify your example to
It is triggered by {birthdays and anniversaries}. -> either a birthday or an anniversary will trigger it or both together will trigger it.
It is triggered by {birthdays} or {anniversaries}. -> Either a birthday or an anniversary will trigger it but both together will not.
In this case, the distinction is pedantic and in your case, both are possible and the example is understood as
It is triggered either by birthdays or by anniversaries - it doesn't matter which.
Or
It is triggered by birthdays and it is also triggered by anniversaries.
The problem is with the verb “trigger” – this is a punctual verb. Punctual verbs have no real duration – they are instant. Because they are instant their action cannot affect two things at the same time and therefore the reader imagines the case of a birthday and an anniversary occurring at the same time. or imagines only one example - the case of a birthday or the case of an anniversary.
The difference is clearer when a durative verb is used. Durative verbs contain an implied duration of action in their meaning. “To read” is a durative verb – it takes time to read.
Compare a durative verb
It is read by the girl and the boy.
It is read by the girl or the boy.
(Grammatically, both are correct but express different ideas.)
With a punctual verb
It finished at 8 pm and 9 pm - this is wrong.
It finished at 8 pm or 9 pm - this is correct.