Is 'one or more' correct, or should it be 'one or many'?

[Geoff Hart <ghart -at- videotron -dot- ca>]

Liza Enguio wondered: <<I'd like to know if it is correct to say, for  
example:  Select one or more items from the list.  Or should it be:  
Select one or many items from the list.  Because in Chicago Manual of  
Style, 'more' is used more in comparative adjective.>>

"One or more" is correct if you mean 1, 2, or more. "One or many" is  
correct if there are only two alternatives: 1, or at least (say) 5,  
since "many" means more than some arbitrary large number. If you don't  
like the phrase, say "at least one" instead.

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Geoff Hart (www.geoff-hart.com)
ghart -at- videotron -dot- ca / geoffhart -at- mac -dot- com
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Effective Onscreen Editing:
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