How can I describe three items in sentence?

Question

I have three methods such as

Method A, method B, and proposed method

They have similar properties, and thus they show a same drawback. I would like to write the sentence to express that issue. This is my sentence

Both method A, method B and proposed method utilize ID information, which makes these methods depends on number size.

My problem is that "both" often uses for two items. But my sentence has three items. Is it fine, if I use both to group 3 items as the above sentence. Do you have any word to express three items?

Benjamin Harman · Accepted Answer

No, the word both can't be used in this way.  Both only ever refers to two things, never three.  You don't need to use anything before the list.  the fact that you list all three things and follow it with the third-person plural conjugation of the verb utilize indicates that all three items listed constitute the subject.  However, if for whatever reason you want to use something like both that you could use for three things, then write it as follows:

All three, method A, method B and proposed method C, utilize ID
  information, which makes these methods depend on number size.

-or-

Method A, method B and proposed method C utilize ID information, which
  makes all three methods depend on number size.

-or-

Method A, method B and proposed method C all utilize ID information,
  which makes them depend on number size.

Be sure to note the correction to the conjugation of depends to depend.

DJClayworth · Answer

All of method A, method B and [the] proposed method utilize ID information, which makes these methods [dependent] on number size.

All is the word you are looking for, and has the advantage that it can be used for four or more methods.

Kevin B Leigh · Answer

Three things happened at once; a, b and c
Three different things happened; a, b, then c
Three conflicting things happened, a, b but not c

How can I describe three items in sentence?

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