Which is the best? -- Either... it is usually difficult to know which(one).

[James]

Hi,

Could tell me which is the best?

1. Either (a) radio interference, etc., or (b) nonexistence of the (article tagged with) RFID tag is responsible. However, it is usually difficult to know which one is.
2. Either... it is usually difficult to know which one.
3. Either... it is usually difficult to know which.

Thanks!

[Mister Micawber]

'which' only.
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Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's

[James]

[Cerberus™]

James, you are crossing the line here. It doesn't matter whether you are right or not: you must really try to stay polite under all circumstances. Besides, why would you be rude to those who try to help you, even if you do not like what they tell you?

That a sentence is part of a patent doesn't mean it is good English. This quote is a bit ugly and difficult to understand, at best. Perhaps it should be rewritten altogether:
"There are two possible causes for this malfunction [or whatever it is]: either radio interference or a missing RFID tag or its article [this can probably be rephrased in a better way by someone who actually knows what it means]; the difficulty lies in determining which one is the problem in a given situation."

[James]

I am waiting for Mister to show up.

[James]

Let me show you something from another thread, Cerberus.

[Cerberus™]

[James]

I have to say you are right on the "stay polite" point, to me. I don't know much as you do about "MM"; but I am trying to know if this forum is such a place that some teachers teach the "students" as if the latter owed the former because they don't pay. If I were the "teacher", I would rather feel I owe the "students" much because they gave me the chance to sell myself a little. If you don't want this way, you can simply set up a system to charge the "students".
By the way, I don't like much the expression "a native speaker, a long-time teacher of English...". You know, everybody on this planet is a native speaker of some language(s). It's no big deal. And if someone is a long-time teacher, he won't say "your English is not good enough yet to try to disagree with me...", and something like I speak, you hear. I have no idea how English teachers in Yokohama behave themselves but I guess that Japanese people may not welcome such a teacher.

I respect what you said and appologize for the impolitess.

James

[Mister Micawber]

I do not need to sell myself, James. I have plenty of paying students. I will, however, amend my statement to this:

"Your knowledge of English is not good enough yet to try to disagree with me with such great authority." You will find yourself too often in the wrong.
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Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's

[James]

You always make comments as if you were a judge, I feel, at least. Anyway, then, teach me, MM, where exactly I disagree with you with such great authority and where I am too often in the wrong.

Sorry to hear that you are here without being paid. I suggest you accept it and continue selling yourself on this forum for a little satisfaction: that's what I menat. If you don't want, you can go away, as you said to me.

Thanks anyway for telling me that I am in the wrong too often. I would appreciate it if you could let me learn from you, if you will. Just one thing I'd like to share with you: I am not ashamed of my poor English; on the contrary, as long as I know I am poor in some aspect, I will then never attempt to play god for a little poor self-satisfaction.

James

[Mister Micawber]

Good. We are understood, then.
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Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's