if (a && b || c && d || e) // wtf? Don't make me guess what you intended! if ((a && b) || (c && d) || e) // clear if (a && (b || c) && (d || e)) // as clear, but a very different condition if (a && (b || (c && (d || e)))) // a different condition if ((((a && b) || c) && d) || e) // another different condition #### if ((((((((a && b))) || (((c)))))))) // make extra-sure that parentheses have precedence ;-) #### if ( ((a == A_MAGIC_1) || (a == A_MAGIC_2)) && ((b == B_MAGIC_1) || (b == B_MAGIC_2)) && ( (c == C_MAGIC_1) || ((c == C_MAGIC_2) && (a == A_MAGIC_2) && (b == B_MAGIC_2)) ) )