constantly high and low?

[Mher]

Can I replace "and" with "or" in this sentence? "This stream is regulated by the flux and reflux of the sea — it being constantly high and low water every six hours."

 

[Tdol]

I can't see why not.

 

[Raymott]

I don't like the sentence. "It was alternately high and low every six hours." 'Constantly' doesn't make sense to me. Do you mean the highs and lows were always at the same levels? I'm not sure - is it right to call a sine wave constant?
Also, I'd omit the 'it' after the dash.

 

[Mher]

I don't like the sentence. "It was alternatively high and low every six hours." 'Constantly' doesn't make sense to me. Do you mean the highs and lows were always at the same levels? I'm not sure - is it right to call a sine wave constant?
Also, I'd omit the 'it' after the dash.

I do not like either. The sentence is not mine and is written by Mr. Poe. I comprehend it just like you: "It was alternately high and low every six hours."

 

[Tdol]

I didn't say I liked it; I just said I thought it was possible. Mr Poe wrote a long time ago. The sentence reads oddly today, but Idon't think the problem is and/or,which I think can be swapped.

 

[Raymott]

: "It was alternatively high and low every six hours."

Note, I meant alternately. I've changed it.
It's probably better to give the source in the original post if you know it. It can often make a difference to the correct answer.

 

[Liara_Tsoni]

So as I understand this is a sentence from "Descent Into Maelstroem" by Edgar Alan Poe. You don't like the sound of it in original and at first wanted to switch and with or. However if you are planning to change anything in this quote then perhaps do as Raymott suggested and rephrase the whole things. Just be sure to add the source of original.