Ya sea por correo o en papel, leemos el informe.

It introduces two alternatives. It works a lot like whether ... or ... in English.

So ya sea por correo o en papel means that the action is true in either of those two cases.

A useful pattern to remember is:

• ya sea X o Y = whether X or Y

You will often see it before short phrases, as here.

Because ya sea is a fixed expression that uses the subjunctive form of ser.

• es = indicative
• sea = present subjunctive

In this structure, Spanish normally uses the subjunctive because it is presenting alternatives rather than stating one concrete fact as the chosen option.

So learners often just memorize ya sea ... o ... as a set phrase.

Because Spanish uses different prepositions for different kinds of medium or format, and these choices are often idiomatic.

Here:

• por correo = by mail / through the postal system / by email in some contexts
• en papel = on paper / in paper form

A simple way to think about it:

• por often expresses the channel or means
• en often expresses the format or physical form

So even if English might use similar wording for both, Spanish does not have to.

Because these are very common expressions referring to a medium in a general way.

Spanish often leaves out the article in set phrases like this:

• por correo
• en papel
• por teléfono
• en clase

If you added an article, it would usually sound more literal, more specific, or simply less idiomatic in this context.

It means in paper form or as a physical paper copy.

It does not mean that something is made of paper in the material sense. It is about the format.

So en papel is commonly used to contrast with digital forms, for example:

• en papel
• en PDF
• en línea
• en formato digital

Because Spanish usually leaves out subject pronouns when the verb ending already shows who the subject is.

Here, leemos clearly tells us the subject is we.

So:

• leemos el informe = we read the report

You could say nosotros leemos el informe, but that would usually add emphasis, contrast, or clarity, for example if you were contrasting we with they.

Because leemos is the present tense, while leímos is the preterite.

• leemos = we read / we are reading / we do read, depending on context
• leímos = we read, in the past

The accent matters:

• leemos has no accent
• leímos has an accent on í

They are also pronounced differently:

• leemos = le-e-mos
• leímos = le-í-mos

So the spelling tells you the tense here.

It can depend on context.

In Spain, correo by itself can refer to:

• mail/post
• sometimes email, especially in everyday speech

But if you want to be completely clear, Spanish often says:

• correo electrónico = email
• correo postal = postal mail

So por correo can be a little ambiguous on its own. Context usually decides the meaning.

Because ya sea por correo o en papel is an introductory phrase placed before the main clause:

• introductory phrase: Ya sea por correo o en papel
• main clause: leemos el informe

Spanish often uses a comma after this kind of fronted expression, especially when it is a bit longer. It helps separate the setup from the main statement.

Yes. Spanish has a few similar ways to express the same idea.

For example:

• Sea por correo o en papel, leemos el informe.
• Ya sea por correo, ya sea en papel, leemos el informe.

The version with ya sea ... o ... is very standard and natural.

Also, if you wanted to be more explicit, you might say:

• Ya sea por correo electrónico o en papel...

if the intended contrast is specifically email vs paper copy.