While reviewing some text written by a colleague I encountered this situation: you should use X or similar tool which sounds incorrect to me. I feel a correct text here would be one of these you should use X or a similar tool you should use X or similar you should use X or similar tools But I can't articulate why, and being a non-native english speaker there's a chance I'm just projecting my native grammar onto the english one. Which option is correct, and why?

Usage of "X or similar"

English Language & Usage Asked on November 24, 2020

While reviewing some text written by a colleague I encountered this situation:

you should use X or similar tool

which sounds incorrect to me. I feel a correct text here would be one of these

But I can’t articulate why, and being a non-native english speaker there’s a chance I’m just projecting my native grammar onto the english one.

Which option is correct, and why?

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