We observe that a solvability criterion for finite groups, conjectured by Miller [The product of two or more groups, Trans. Amer. Math. Soc. 12 (1911) has a nontrivial 2-element and an odd p-element, such that the order of their product is not divisible by either 2 or p. We also prove a solvability criterion involving conjugates of odd p-elements. Finally, we define, via a condition on products of p-elements with p -elements, a formation P p, p , for each prime p. We show that P 2,2 (which contains the odd-order groups) is properly contained in the solvable formation.2000 Mathematics subject classification: primaray 20D10; secondary 20E32.