Different ways to express If-Then

Question

What are some different ways to write the conditional statement $p\implies q\,$, but in English?

There's the obvious "If p, then q", but are there any other ways to write it? I'm looking for another 3 or 4 ways to express this.

Answer 1

Different ways to write, or express, the conditional statement $p \rightarrow q$ besides "if $p$ then $q$."

1. "$p$ is a sufficient condition for $q$"; or
2. "$p$ only if $q$";
3. "$p$ implies $q$";
4. "$q$ whenever $p$"
5. "$q$ is a necessary condition for $p$" (i.e., "if not $q$, then not $p$", or $\lnot q \rightarrow \lnot p$);
6. "$q$ is a consequence of $p$";
7. "$q$ follows from $p$";
8. "$q$ if $p$".
9. "if not $q$, then not $p$."
10. "not $p$, or $q$"
11. "not ($p$ and not $q$)

Logically, we can write $(10)$ as $$(p \rightarrow q) \equiv (\lnot p \lor q)$$ and $(11)$ as $$(p \rightarrow q) \equiv \lnot(p \land \lnot q)$$

Those are just a few of the ways one can express "if $p$, then $q$." But some expressions may be more intuitive than others.

One final note: The term "unless" also relates to "if and only if" in the following sense: as in "$p$ unless $q$" is equivalent to "unless $q$, then $p$" which is equivalent to "if not $q$, then $p$".

Answer 2

"p only if q"

"q whenever p"

"q if p"

"q is a necessary condition for p"

"q unless not p"

Answer 3

The proposition $P\Rightarrow Q$ is logically equivalent to

$$\sim P \vee Q.$$

Answer 4

There appears to be some confusion in several answers above, I do not have sufficient reputation points to add a comment to the question and it seem rude to edit the answer p⟹q does not imply q⟹p

let p be "john drives to another city" let q be "john gets in a car"

If "John drives to another city" then "John gets in a car" but it does not follow that If "John gets in a car" then "John drives to another city"

For a numeric equivalent let p be x = 4 let q be x^2 = 16

If x=4 then x^2=16 but it does not necessarily follow that If x^2=16 then x=4

Hence only the following are true:

• q whenever p
• q if p
• p is a sufficient condition for q
• p implies q
• q follows from p
• q is a consequence of p
• not p, or q
• not (p and not q)

Answer 5

"p only if q" should be added as well. The sentence "p only if q" should not be confused with "p if q".