authorityeither

Authorityeither is a neologism used in rhetorical analysis to describe a pattern in which a claim is legitimized by invoking an authority frame that relies on the possible endorsement of one of two authorities, rather than a single stated source. The term combines authority with either, signaling a hedged appeal to credibility.

In practice, an argument employing authorityeither identifies two authorities, A and B, and presents the conclusion as supported by either one. The speaker may refrain from declaring which authority is decisive, thereby reducing apparent risk of disagreement but potentially obscuring the relevance or strength of each source.

Usage contexts include political discourse, media literacy discussions, and critical pedagogy. Critics argue that authorityeither can mislead audiences by implying consensus or authority while leaving important questions about applicability, expertise, and evidence unaddressed. Proponents see it as a useful lens for analyzing hedged appeals.

Relation to established concepts: it overlaps with appeals to authority (ad verecundiam) when authorities are in fact relevant, but it also resembles a hedging tactic and, in some cases, a form of false dichotomy or ambiguity in sourcing.

Status: Authorityeither is not widely formalized in major reference works. It appears primarily in scholarly articles, blog discussions, and media-literacy materials as a descriptive label for a specific persuasive pattern.