I wish to ask whether the proximity rule or the standard convention of using plural/ singular verb after the either or is correct? Which is the correct one to follow?
There is more on either/or and singular or plural verb here. The proximity rule is used by some, but go for the standard ruling if I were you. That is: plural or singular = plural singular or singular = singular singular or plural = plural The only difference is the proximity rule would have the first one as "= singular"