baik ... atau ...

Either Option Framing

Level 3

Baik ... atau ... is a common but non-standard way to say 'either... or...' or 'whether... or...'. While frequent in daily speech, it should be avoided in formal Indonesian.

How It Works

This is a paired or correlative conjunction (konjungsi korelatif). Learners will frequently hear baik [Option A] atau [Option B] in informal settings, but it is important to recognize its status:

  • Non-Standard Status: The Indonesian Language Agency (Badan Bahasa) classifies this as 'tidak baku'. In formal writing, you should use baik ... maupun ... when you mean 'both A and B' or 'A as well as B'. Similarly, the variant baik [A] ataupun [B] is also considered non-standard. It is crucial to remember that the standard counterpart is inclusive, whereas 'atau' presents alternatives; whether the alternatives are exclusive depends on context.
  • Spelling of Maupun: Note that maupun is written as one solid word, unlike most other uses of the particle pun.
  • Expressing Doubt: While 'baik ... atau ...' is sometimes used informally to mean 'whether... or...', the standard 'baik ... maupun ...' cannot be used to express doubt (e.g., 'I don't know whether he is coming or not'). For uncertainty, use the standard pair 'entah ... entah ...' or the construction 'apakah ... atau ...' (using apakah).
  • Scaling and Punctuation: Unlike the English 'both... and...', the standard baik ... maupun ... scales to three or more items because it translates closer to 'whether it be [A], [B], or [C]'. When connecting only two items, there must be NO comma (e.g., 'baik A maupun B', not 'baik A, maupun B'). However, when listing three or more items, standard Indonesian orthography (EYD) requires commas, including one right before 'maupun' (e.g., 'baik A, B, maupun C').
  • Parallel Structure (Kesetaraan Sintaksis): The elements connected by these correlative conjunctions must belong to the same grammatical category. For example, if Option A is a noun, Option B must also be a noun; if Option A is an adjective, Option B must be an adjective. Compare the standard examples Baik laki-laki maupun perempuan dapat mendaftar (two parallel nouns, no comma), Acara ini terbuka untuk umum, baik warga lokal maupun pendatang (a parallel pair after a framing clause), and Karyawan dituntut untuk bekerja baik secara mandiri maupun dalam tim (parallel adverbial phrases). With three items, use list commas: Baik guru, siswa, maupun orang tua hadir.
  • Alternatives: To express a choice between alternatives correctly, use atau alone for simple choices.
  • Register Awareness: Using 'baik ... atau ...' in a professional email or academic paper may be seen as a sign of poor grammar. Become proficient in using the standard 'maupun' counterpart for inclusive meanings in those contexts.

Examples (3)

  1. Kita bisa membahasnya, baik sekarang atau nanti.

    We can discuss it, either now or later. (An informal non-standard pairing.)

    Word by Word: We can discuss-it, either now or later.

    This illustrates the non-standard pairing for recognition. For a straightforward standard choice, use Kita bisa membahasnya sekarang atau nanti; do not automatically substitute maupun if you mean one alternative.

  2. Hasilnya, baik atau buruk, harus kita terima.

    The result, whether good or bad, we must accept.

    Word by Word: Result-the, good or bad, must we accept.

    Here baik is the adjective good contrasted with buruk (bad), rather than the first half of a correlative pair. Baik atau buruk is a valid adjective coordination. This differs from adding correlative baik before two other alternatives.

  3. Kamu bisa memilih warna, baik merah atau biru.

    You can choose a color, either red or blue.

    Word by Word: You can choose color, whether red or blue.

    A common colloquial way to present a choice between two specific adjectives.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'baik... atau' or 'baik... ataupun' in formal writing.

    Baik sekarang ataupun nanti, kita harus pergi.
    Baik sekarang maupun nanti, kita harus pergi.

    In standard Indonesian (Bahasa Baku), the correlative pair for 'whether A or B' is baik ... maupun .... Using 'atau' or 'ataupun' with 'baik' is considered non-standard and should be avoided in formal registers.

  • Confusing the standard way to express 'either... or...' in formal contexts.

    Pilihlah baik merah atau biru.
    Pilihlah merah atau biru.

    If you are presenting a simple choice between two options, just use atau alone. Adding 'baik' at the start is unnecessary and grammatically incorrect in formal registers.

  • Using 'baik... atau' when uncertainty is intended.

    Baik dia datang atau tidak, saya tidak tahu.
    Apakah dia datang atau tidak, saya tidak tahu.

    When expressing doubt or 'whether... or not', the standard constructions are 'entah ... entah ...' or 'apakah ... atau ...' (using apakah). Mixing pairs to form 'entah ... atau ...' is a non-standard structural error.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

baik ... atau ...Level 3Either Option Framing

Learn This First

To understand 'baik ... atau ...', a learner must first be familiar with the basic conjunction 'atau' used for alternatives. It is also helpful to understand the 'baik ... maupun ...' structure, as 'baik' functions similarly here to frame a set of options or conditions.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern