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Use of "whenever" or "when" instead of "if" in logical sentences

English Language & Usage Asked by JerryAZ on January 30, 2021

The conjunction "if" is used a lot in scientific writing. I wonder if it is correct to replace it with "when" and/or "whenever".

For example, instead of writing:

(1) a · b = 0 if a, b are orthogonal.

writing

(2) a · b = 0 whenever a, b are orthogonal.

or

(3) a · b = 0 when a, b are orthogonal.

I read sentences like (2) and (3) in many scientific articles, but they were not written by English speakers, so I am not sure if they are correct.

One Answer

They are all equally correct and equivalent one-way statements of implication. In other words, none of them means the two way "iff".

They all say:

a, b are orthogonal implies a · b = 0

or

orthogonal(a,b) => a . b = 0

Answered by chasly - supports Monica on January 30, 2021

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