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using from-to in a list

English Language & Usage Asked on June 8, 2021

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Is the above sentence correct? Can ‘to’ be used twice in a list?

One Answer

Yes, you can use "to" twice. They're being used in completely different senses.

The first "to" is separating the ends of a range:

from X to Y

The second "to" is part of the noun phrase that comprises Y, which is of the form

integrated access to Z".

It's not a list of 3 items:

from X to Y to Z

It's simply coincidental that the same word "to" is used in both contexts.

However, I've certainly seen sentences that used "to" multiple times to describe a list of multiple items.

from X to Y, to Z

Although it doesn't make sense to describe a single range like this, this is often indented as short for

from X to Y, and from Y to Z

Or, as in your example, it's not really a literal range. The items are just emphasizing various possibilities in a set or metaphorical spectrum. For instance, one could say:

The rainbow's colors are spectacular, from red to blue to violet.

Answered by Barmar on June 8, 2021

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