neither nor

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "neither nor" is not correct; the correct form is "neither...nor." You can use it to connect two negative alternatives in a sentence.
Example: "She likes neither coffee nor tea."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 human-written examples

However, neither NOR nor BALB/c T cells induce cFLIPp43 expression or proliferate in response to CD40 engagement.

Plosone

We found that neither NOR or MYBBP1A overlapped with the DAPI-dense blocks.

BMC Genomics

Albeit high yellow, neither nor".

The New York Times

The tyrannies Soros helped bring down were neither nor democratic nor socialist.

The New Yorker

"The ni-ni vote (neither nor) is not the solution to the UMP's problems," Valls added.

The Guardian

The DPJ has neither, nor has it had any success in persuading the smaller opposition parties to vote with it.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

34 human-written examples

It's a neither-nor form I happen to like — probably the Caribbean in me.

The New Yorker

In a neither-nor or either-or construction, the verb agrees with the closest part of the subject.

The New York Times

As long as these series were best-of-five, there was a feeling of limbo, a neither-nor proposition that left the winners relieved and the losers stunned.

The New York Times - Sports

They had a kind of neither-nor identity, denied both the solidarity of other students of color and the social standing of white people.

The New York Times

Sørensen's fiction manifests in artistic form the theories of his philosophical writings, Digtere og daemoner (1959; "Poets and Demons") and Hverken-eller (1961; "Neither-Nor").

Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the correct construction "neither...nor" to properly convey that both options being presented are untrue or unchosen. For example, instead of saying "He likes neither nor dislikes it", say "He likes "neither likes nor dislikes" it."

Common error

Avoid using "neither nor" without completing the correlative conjunction with the "neither...nor" structure. Incomplete usage leads to grammatical errors and unclear communication. Always pair "neither" with "nor".

How to use

Learn how to use "neither nor" with practical examples and tips.

How to use

Linguistic Context

The phrase "neither nor" on its own is grammatically incorrect. It requires the completion of the correlative conjunction "neither...nor" to function as a negating conjunction, joining two elements that are both not true or not chosen. As confirmed by Ludwig, the correct form is "neither...nor".

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

32%

News & Media

55%

Encyclopedias

3%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the isolated phrase "neither nor" appears in various contexts, it's grammatically incorrect on its own. As Ludwig confirms, the correct construction is "neither...nor", which functions as a correlative conjunction to negate two options. This construction is used across various domains, including science, news, and general writing, to clearly indicate that both stated possibilities do not apply. Remember to always complete the phrase for grammatical accuracy and clarity in communication. Failing to complete the phrase with its parts leads to grammatical errors.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Neither...nor

This is the grammatically correct construction to express that two options are not true or possible.

Neither this nor that

Emphasizes the negation of two specific items or ideas.

Not either...or

This phrase expresses the negation of an either/or choice.

Without either

This indicates the absence of both options.

Lacking both

Emphasizes the absence of two specific things.

Devoid of either

A more formal way to say lacking either option.

Not one or the other

Clarifies that neither of the two options is applicable.

Excluding both

Highlights the exclusion of two possibilities.

In the absence of both

A formal way to indicate that both options are missing.

Negating both

Focuses on the act of negating two separate elements.

FAQs

What is the correct way to use "neither nor"?

The correct way to use this construction is "neither...nor". It is used to indicate that two or more options are not true or do not apply. For example, "Neither coffee nor tea appeals to me right now".

What does the phrase "neither nor" mean?

The phrase "neither nor" by itself is incomplete. It requires the complete correlative conjunction "neither...nor" to function correctly. The complete phrase indicates that not one thing and not another thing are true or possible.

Can I use "either" instead of "neither" with "nor"?

No, "either" is used with "or", not "nor". "Either...or" presents a choice between two possibilities, while "neither...nor" negates both possibilities. For example, "Either this or that" versus "neither this nor that".

What are some alternatives to "neither...nor"?

Alternatives include using "not...or", such as "Not this or that". You can also rephrase the sentence to use "without" or "lacking" to convey a similar meaning.