nor is there

USAGE SUMMARY

'nor is there' is a correct and usable phrasing in written English.
You can use it in the middle of a sentence directly following a negative statement to describe something else that is also not true or present. For example: "The living room is empty, nor is there any furniture in the kitchen."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Nor is there one.

The New York Times - Sports

Nor is there anything sexy.

The New Yorker

Nor is there a cure.

The New Yorker

Nor is there victory.

The Washington Post

Nor is there a certainty of success.

Independent

Nor is there to be compulsion.

The Economist

Nor is there a fixed date.

The Economist

Nor is there a parting moral.

The New Yorker

Nor is there even an ideological connection.

The New Yorker

Nor is there a physical resemblance.

The New Yorker

Nor is there anger at Brussels.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "nor is there" to connect two negative statements, ensuring both parts of the sentence are negative to maintain grammatical correctness. For instance, "There is no evidence of tampering, nor is there any reason to suspect foul play."

Common error

Using "nor is there" after a positive statement creates a grammatical error. For example, instead of writing "There is ample evidence, nor is there any reason to doubt it", rephrase to maintain the negative-negative structure, such as "There is no lack of evidence, nor is there any reason to doubt it".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "nor is there" functions as a negative correlative conjunction, linking two negative statements together. As Ludwig indicates, it follows a negative statement to introduce another negative clause, reinforcing the absence or lack of something.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Academia

20%

Science

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "nor is there" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to connect two negative statements, indicating that what follows is also absent or untrue. Ludwig confirms that it's typically used after a negative clause to introduce another negation. As exemplified by the sources, its usage spans various contexts, from formal academic writing to news articles, though it is most frequent in news and media. When using this phrase, ensure it follows a negative statement to maintain grammatical accuracy. Consider alternatives such as "neither is there" for stylistic variation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

neither is there

Replaces "nor" with "neither", maintaining the same meaning of negation following a previous negative statement.

nor does there exist

A more formal and emphatic way to state that something does not exist, similar to "nor is there".

likewise, there is no

Indicates that something is absent in a similar way to a previous statement, using "likewise" for emphasis.

there isn't also

Uses a more direct phrasing to indicate the absence of something in addition to a previous statement.

there is not either

Indicates that something is not present, mirroring the meaning of "nor is there" with a different word order.

also there is not

Inverts the structure to emphasize the lack of something, offering a slightly different stylistic choice.

in addition, there isn't

Adds a conjunction to explicitly link the absence of something to a previous negative statement.

nor can it be found

Shifts the focus to the inability to find something, implying its absence in a specific context.

and similarly absent is

Uses a more descriptive and elaborate phrasing to highlight the absence of something.

nor shall we find

A more formal and somewhat archaic way to express that something will not be found, similar to "nor is there".

FAQs

How to use "nor is there" in a sentence?

"Nor is there" is used to introduce a second negative clause that corresponds with the first. For example, "There is no food left, "nor is there" any water."

What can I say instead of "nor is there"?

You can use alternatives like "neither is there", "nor does there exist", or "there is not either", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "nor there is" instead of "nor is there"?

No, the correct phrasing is "nor is there". The inverted structure with the auxiliary verb "is" preceding "there" is necessary for proper grammar.

What's the difference between "nor is there" and "neither is there"?

Both "nor is there" and "neither is there" are used to introduce a second negative clause. They are largely interchangeable, though "nor" can sometimes imply a stronger connection to the preceding negative statement.