false range

From … to … with items not on one continuum.

From … to … marks the two ends of a continuum, so everything between them is included, as in from June to August and from page 12 to page 18. A false range puts items that are not on one continuum into from … to …, as in from mathematics to mustard. For a mix of items, list them or introduce them with including or such as: including mathematics and mustard.

Examples

UseThe office is open from Monday to Friday. (the days in between are included)

UseThe staff includes clerks, guards, and drivers. (a mix of jobs, listed)

AvoidThe museum covers everything from the Civil War to oatmeal. (the two items are not on one continuum)