Using Nor Properly
The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation
Using Nor Properly
Those who enjoy and study grammar often do so because they are inspired by the clear and eloquent expression of thoughts. They understand that when we open our mouths, put pen to paper, or begin to type, our minds are on parade.
Precision in writing and speech involves the steady acquisition of grammatical details, or what we might also think of as the special-use tools in our toolbox. One such implement is the word nor.
Nor originates from the Middle English word nother, which means “neither.” When we write neither A nor B, we are expressing neither A neither B. Over time, the second neither contracted to nor, which serves as a coordinating conjunction used for negation.
Properly Using Nor
As a coordinating conjunction, nor joins words, phrases, or clauses of equal rank. It appears with other negation words such as neither and not to form what is known as a correlative pair.
Examples
That book is neither smart nor illuminating. (negation of two words)
Diego neither watches TV nor goes to the movies. (negation of two verb phrases)
I will not attend the rally, nor will I endorse it. (negation of two independent clauses)
The constructions’ parallelism is important to their precision. Consider them when we alter their equal correlation:
That book is neither smart nor do I find it informative. (word, independent clause)
Neither Diego watches TV nor goes to the movies. (word, verb phrase)
I will not attend the rally nor endorsed it. (future tense verb, past tense verb)
Another way to express the same principle is that the first part of the correlative pair should begin right before the first item to be negated. Consider the sentences when we move the position of neither and not outside of parallel placement.
Incorrect: That book neither is smart nor informative. (starts before verb and then switches to adjective)
Correct: That book is neither smart nor informative. (starts before adjective and continues with adjective)Incorrect: Diego watches neither TV nor goes to the movies. (starts before noun and then switches to verb phrase)
Correct: Diego neither watches TV nor goes to the movies. (starts before verb phrase and continues with verb phrase)
When the first part of a negating correlative pair is cannot, the correct second half is or instead of nor.
Incorrect: Krisztina cannot run nor walk because of her calf strain.
Correct: Krisztina cannot run or walk because of her calf strain.
When we are negating more than one item in a list, we repeat the word nor before each item after the introductory component.
Correct: That book is neither smart nor illuminating nor mildly interesting.
Incorrect: That book is neither smart, illuminating, nor mildly interesting.Correct: Diego neither watches TV nor goes to the movies nor streams content on his phone.
Incorrect: Diego neither watches TV, goes to the movies, nor streams content on his phone.
Using Nor Properly: Verb Agreement
The number of the component closest to the verb in a correlative pair such as neither…nor will determine the verb number as well.
Examples
Neither setbacks [plural noun] nor delay [singular noun] discourages [singular verb] Preston from pursuing his goals.
Neither delay [singular noun] nor setbacks [plural noun] discourage [plural verb] Preston from pursuing his goals.
Using Nor Properly: Interchanging with Or
In a correlative pair, neither will always prompt the use of nor. With other negation such as never or not, there will be times when the conjunction or may strike you as the better choice if the following words being negated are nouns, adjectives, or adverbs.
When or is used, the initial negative will carry through the rest of the sentence.
Examples
Jamie does not want sprinkles or thick icing on her birthday cake. (Compare with Jamie does not want sprinkles nor thick icing on her birthday cake. Which sounds better?)
Bethany has never been as joyful or hopeful as she is now. (Compare with Bethany has never been as joyful nor hopeful as she is now.)
Raafa will not act hastily or speak unwisely. (Compare with Raafa will not act hastily nor speak unwisely.)
Related Topics
Neither … Or
What Are Correlative Conjunctions?
Pop Quiz
Change each sentence from positive to negative by properly using a negative correlative pair including nor.
1. Julia likes hiking and boating.
2. The Fighting Fins football team is big and fast.
3. I will wash the car today, and I will trim the hedges tomorrow.
4. Joshua shaves daily and trims his eyebrows weekly.
5. Veronica and Zacharias are going to the Katy Perry concert.
Pop Quiz Answers
1. Julia likes neither hiking nor boating.
2. The Fighting Fins football team is neither big nor fast.
3. I will not wash the car today, nor will I trim the hedges tomorrow. (or I will neither wash the car today nor trim the hedges tomorrow.)
4. Joshua neither shaves daily nor trims his eyebrows weekly.
5. Neither Veronica nor Zacharias is going to the Katy Perry concert.
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On the Neither Diego sentence there could be two persons named Diego.
While likely describing an uncommon occurrence, this construction could implicate the presence of two Diegos (the previous example included just one). In that case, the word neither would no longer be serving as a conjunction in a correlative pair, but rather as an adjective modifying “Diego.” This reinforces the importance of positioning the parts of the correlative pair correctly for intended clarity.