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Anonymous Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

"nor": can be replaced by "or"?

Hi,

Would you say the word "nor" in these sentences can be replaced by (with?) the word "or" without much difference?

Nobody (or no one) here nor anybody (or any one) there can make them do what they want them to do.
Neither this nor that can make them do this.
  

Top answer

Neither anyone here nor anyone there can make t hem do what they want them to do. A referent is needed for them, they and do, those pronouns are ambiguous without one. A better sentence (IMO) would be: Neither anyone here nor anyone there can make Jane and Jim do something they don't want to do.

— Anonymous

  • Neither anyone here nor anyone there can make t hem do what they want them to do.
  • A referent is needed for them, they and do, those pronouns are ambiguous without one.
  • A better sentence (IMO) would be: Neither anyone here nor anyone there can make Jane and Jim do something they don't want to do.
  • or No one, anywhere, can make Jane and Joe do something that they don't want to do.
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4 Answers
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Neither anyone here nor anyone there can make them do what they want them to do.

A referent is needed for them, they and do, those pronouns are ambiguous w
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AnonymousHi,

Neither this nor that can make them do this.

No, keep the "nor."

I'll ignore the unnatural nature of the sentence - the prior poster gave you good suggestions for the first one.
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AnonymousNeither anyone here nor anyone there can make them do what they want them to do.

A referent is needed for them, they and d
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Hi, you wrote in your previous response:

Do you find these examples equally disturbing?

He was unable to make me do that.

(We don't know who he was, and we don't know what that is, i.e., what he was unable to make me do.)

They didn't let their daughter date him.

(We don't know who they are, nor who him refers
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