Mesorat%20hashas for Bava Batra 7:3

מִדָּה בַחֶבֶל אֲנִי מוֹכֵר לְךָ הֵן חָסֵר הֵן יָתֵר, בִּטֵּל הֵן חָסֵר הֵן יָתֵר מִדָּה בַחֶבֶל. הֵן חָסֵר הֵן יָתֵר מִדָּה בַחֶבֶל, בִּטֵּל מִדָּה בַחֶבֶל הֵן חָסֵר הֵן יָתֵר, דִּבְרֵי בֶן נַנָּס. בְּסִימָנָיו וּבִמְצָרָיו, פָּחוֹת מִשְּׁתוּת, הִגִּיעוֹ. עַד שְׁתוּת, יְנַכֶּה:

[If one says to his neighbor these two things which contradict each other:] "I am selling you rope-measure, more or less", ["rope-measure" connoting exactness, and "more or less," approximation], [the latter phrase] "more or less" cancels [the former, "rope-measure." [And even if there were a quarter less to every sa'ah, or a quarter more, the sale stands.] (If he says: "I am selling you) more or less, rope-measure," "rope-measure" cancels "more or less." These are the words of Ben Naness. [He holds that the last expression is followed; and the rabbis differ, saying that the lesser expression (i.e., that which results in "less" for the buyer) is followed, whether it be first or last. The rabbis are in doubt as to which expression is to be followed, so (they rule) that the buyer takes in accordance with the expression which results in less for him. The halachah is in accordance with the sages.] (If he says:) ["I am selling you a beth-kor of soil] within these signs and boundaries" less than a sixth, the sale stands; until a sixth, he deducts (the difference). [The intent is: If the beth-kor were lacking a sixth (and, it goes without saying, less than a sixth), the sale stands. But if there were more than a sixth, and downwards, until (but not including) a sixth, he deducts (the difference.)]

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