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conj. And not; or not; not either: has neither phoned nor written us; life forms that are neither plants nor animals. Usage Note: When neither begins a balanced construction that negates two parts of a sentence, nor, not or, must introduce the second part. Thus standard usage requires He is neither able nor (not or) willing to go. Similarly, nor (not or) must be used to start the second of two negative independent clauses: He cannot find anyone now, nor does he expect to find anyone in the future. Jane will never compromise with Bill, nor will Bill compromise with Jane. Note that in these constructions nor causes an inversion of the auxiliary verb and the subject (does he... will Bill). However, when a verb is negated by not or never, and is followed by a negative verb phrase (but not an entire clause), either or or nor is acceptable: He will not permit the change or (or nor) even consider it. · In noun phrases of the type no this or that, or is more common than nor: He has no experience or interest (less frequently nor interest) in chemistry. Or is also more common than nor when such a noun phrase, adjective phrase, or adverb phrase is introduced by not: He is not a philosopher or a statesman. They were not rich or happy. The senator did not speak persuasively or movingly on the issue. See Usage Notes at neither, or1. |
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