.net - What alternative approach could be used in C# to avoid method returning `object` type? -

i know method returning list<string> @ moment. in (which occur quite in our application) scenarios, returns list having only one string.

so return either string or list<string>.

since it's unpredictable it'll return @ run time, @ present it's return type kept object.

what alternative approach used avoid method returning object?

edit: have answer question what alternative approach used avoid method returning object? ; without considering scenario described. list enough here.

why return string? list<string> single string in perfectly defined... use that! ambiguous api silly here.

another option might ienumerable<string>, but... meh, return list single string!