nor was

USAGE SUMMARY

"nor was" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to link two negative ideas or actions in a sentence, similar to the word "neither." It is typically used in formal or literary writing to add emphasis and variation to sentence structure. Example: "He was not afraid of the dark, nor was he afraid of heights."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Nor was he alone.

The New York Times - Books

Nor was the I.M.F.

The New York Times

Nor was it unplanned.

The New York Times

"Nor was medicine".

The New York Times - Books

Nor was one sought.

The New York Times - Sports

Nor was it cheap.

The Economist

Nor was he subtle.

The New York Times

Nor was she fazed.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

Nor is chaos.

Independent

Nor are polytheists.

The Economist

Frankly nor am I".

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "nor was" to connect two negative statements, ensuring grammatical parallelism. For example, "He wasn't ready, nor was he willing" maintains a balanced structure.

Common error

Avoid using "nor was" after a positive statement. It's designed to link two negative clauses. Incorrect: 'He was happy, nor was she.' Correct: 'He wasn't happy, nor was she.'

Linguistic Context

The phrase "nor was" functions as a coordinating conjunction, linking two negative independent clauses. It adds a second negative statement that agrees with and extends the first. Ludwig AI confirms this usage is correct and frequent.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

93%

Science

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "nor was" is a versatile conjunction phrase primarily employed to link two negative clauses. It's deemed grammatically correct and commonly used, as confirmed by Ludwig. Its presence is most prominent in News & Media, lending a slightly formal tone to the writing. Remember to use "nor was" only after a negative statement to ensure grammatical accuracy. When aiming for variety, consider alternatives like "neither was" for a direct synonym or restructuring your sentence entirely. Keep this guidance in mind to effectively use the phrase in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

neither was

Interchangeable in most contexts, offering a direct synonym.

nor did

Similar structure but used when referring to an action performed by someone.

it wasn't either

Informal alternative with a slightly different sentence structure.

it also wasn't

More direct, less formal way to add a negative point.

nor had it been

Emphasizes a state that hadn't existed previously.

similarly, it wasn't

Adds a comparative element, indicating resemblance in a negative state.

likewise, it wasn't

Similar to 'similarly', but can imply a stronger parallel.

neither did it seem

Focuses on the lack of apparentness or evidence.

it wasn't, in addition

Directly adds another negative point in a less formal manner.

nor could it be

Expresses an impossibility or lack of potential.

FAQs

How do you use "nor was" in a sentence?

"Nor was" is used to introduce a second negative clause that agrees with the first. For example: "The movie wasn't good, "nor was it entertaining"."

What can I say instead of "nor was"?

Alternatives include "neither was", "it wasn't either", or restructuring the sentence. For instance, instead of "He wasn't invited, nor was she", you could say "neither he nor she was invited".

Is it ever correct to use "nor was" after a positive statement?

No, "nor was" should only be used after a negative statement to introduce another negative clause. Using it after a positive statement is grammatically incorrect.

What's the difference between "nor was" and "neither was"?

"Nor was" and "neither was" are often interchangeable, but "nor" tends to be more formal or literary. "Neither was it" directly follows the initial negative statement.