The scope of a logical connective occurring within a formula is the smallest
well-formed formula that contains the connective in question.'
The connective with the largest scope in a formula is called its dominant connective,
main connective
,''
main operator
, major connective
, or principal connective
; a connective within the scope of another connective is said to be subordinate
to it.'''' For instance, in the formula (\left( \left( P \rightarrow Q \right) \lor \lnot Q \right) \leftrightarrow \left( \lnot \lnot P \land Q \right)), the dominant connective is ↔, and all other connectives are subordinate to it; the → is subordinate to the ∨, but not to the ∧; the first ¬ is also subordinate to the ∨, but not to the →; the second ¬ is subordinate to the ∧, but not to the ∨ or the →; and the third ¬ is subordinate to the second ¬, as well as to the ∧, but not to the ∨ or the →.'''''' If an
order of precedence is adopted for the connectives, viz., with ¬ applying first, then ∧ and ∨, then →, and finally ↔, this formula may be written in the less parenthesized form \left ( P \rightarrow Q \right) \lor \lnot Q \leftrightarrow \lnot \lnot P \land Q , which some may find easier to read.'''''' == Quantifiers ==