0
Anonymous Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

Is" Nor" used Incorrectly in this Instance?

I'm having trouble finding the rule of how and when to use "nor" when the sentence is negated by the noun "nothing."

For instance: "Nothing in his letter to you was meant nor intended as cynicism."

"Nor" in this example seems wrong, for the negative in 'nothing' is only confined to its own clause. (So I've been told, anyway.) There is only one clause in this sentence, so I'm thinking that "or" is correct and "nor" is incorrect in my example, as "nothing" negates both "meant" and "implied" in the one clause. Am I right?

Also, can someone provide me with an accurate rule for usage?

Thank you.
  

Top answer

nor... nor... Neither Joe nor Lucy are going to school.

  • nor...
  • nor...
  • Neither Joe nor Lucy are going to school.
  • She was neither frightened nor surprised when she encountered the dangerous animal.
  • Not a man nor a child was invited to the party ( formal ).
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

1 Answers
0
Hi,

The popular structures about which you're talking are neither...nor... and not...nor...

Neither Joe nor Lucy are going to school.

She was neither frightened nor surprised when she encountered the dangerous animal.

Not a man nor a child was invited to the party (formal).

A: Rover is no

Related Questions