> complex numbers do not possess a total ordering The set of complex numbers does not possess a total ordering that respects the algebraic operations. The set

> complex numbers do not possess a total ordering The set of complex numbers does not possess a total ordering that respects the algebraic operations. The set of complex numbers is in bijection (in many, meaningless, ways) with the set of real numbers, and so certainly admits a (indeed many, meaningless) total ordering.