both... and

both... and
 "He was both deaf to argument and entreaty" (cited by Gowers). The rule involved here is that of correlative conjunctions, which states that in a sentence of this type both and and should link grammatically similar entities. If both is followed immediately by a verb, and should also be followed immediately by a verb. If both immediately precedes a noun, then so should and. In the example above, however, both is followed by an adjective (deaf) and and by a noun (entreaty).
 The sentence needs to be recast, either as "He was deaf to both argument [noun] and entreaty [noun]" or as "He was deaf both to argument [preposition and noun] and to entreaty [preposition and noun]."
 The rule holds true equally for other such pairs: "not only... but also," "either ... or," and "neither ... nor."

Bryson’s dictionary for writers and editors. 2013.

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  • both --- and — {coord. conj.} Used to emphasize that two or more things are talked about. * /Both Frank and Mary were at the party./ * /Millie is both a good swimmer and a good cook./ * /In the program tonight Mary will both sing and dance./ * /The frog can… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • both --- and — {coord. conj.} Used to emphasize that two or more things are talked about. * /Both Frank and Mary were at the party./ * /Millie is both a good swimmer and a good cook./ * /In the program tonight Mary will both sing and dance./ * /The frog can… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • Both — Both, conj. As well; not only; equally. [1913 Webster] Note: Both precedes the first of two co[ o]rdinate words or phrases, and is followed by and before the other, both . . . and . . .; as well the one as the other; not only this, but also that; …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Both — Both, a. or pron. [OE. bothe, ba?e, fr. Icel. b[=a]?ir; akin to Dan. baade, Sw. b[*a]da, Goth. baj??s, OHG. beid?, b?d?, G. & D. beide, also AS. begen, b[=a], b?, Goth. bai, and Gr. ?, L. ambo, Lith. ab[ a], OSlav. oba, Skr. ubha. [root]310. Cf.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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  • both — I. pronoun, plural in construction Etymology: Middle English bothe, probably from Old Norse bāthir; akin to Old High German beide both Date: 12th century the one as well as the other < both of us > < we are both well > < $1000 fine or 30 days in… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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