nor was I

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "nor was I" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to express a negative statement in conjunction with another negative statement, often in a formal or literary context. Example: "I did not attend the meeting, nor was I informed about its outcomes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Nor was I in some vacation rental.

The New York Times

Nor was I ever enrolled there.

The New Yorker

Nor was I, I promise.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Nor was I being lazy.

The Guardian - Opinion

Nor was I a great guitarist.

The Guardian - Music

Nor was I expecting a fight.

The Guardian - Arts

Nor was I the only one.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Nor was I envious that they were more tornado-proof.

The New Yorker

Nor was I inclined to like the magazine.

The New York Times

Nor was I about to get to know her now.

The New York Times - Magazine

Nor was I driving under the influence of liquor.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "nor was I", ensure that the auxiliary verb ("was") agrees with the subject ("I").

Common error

Avoid using "nor was I" after a positive statement. "Nor" introduces a second negative clause; using it after a positive statement creates a grammatical error.

Linguistic Context

"Nor was I" functions as a negative concord or agreement phrase. It's used to indicate that the speaker or writer shares a similar negative state or experience with someone or something previously mentioned. This phrase follows a negative statement and reinforces it by extending the negation to the speaker or subject. According to Ludwig, this is a correct expression.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "nor was I" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression for indicating shared negative experiences or states. It functions as a negative concord, aligning the speaker with a previous negative statement. According to Ludwig AI, this expression is correct. While it maintains a generally neutral to formal tone, predominantly appearing in News & Media contexts, it remains versatile enough for various communicative purposes. Alternatives like "neither was I" and "I wasn't either" offer similar meanings with slight variations in formality. Remember to use it after a negative statement to avoid grammatical errors.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

neither was I

A direct synonym using "neither" instead of "nor", providing an alternative conjunction.

I wasn't either

Rephrases the sentence structure, placing the negative element "either" at the end for emphasis.

nor did I

Switches the auxiliary verb to "did", suitable when the initial statement uses a past simple verb.

I also wasn't

Uses "also" to indicate similarity in a negative context, altering the sentence flow.

I, too, was not

Emphasizes "I" with "too", presenting a slightly more formal or emphatic tone.

nor have I

Employs "have" when responding to a statement in the present perfect tense.

nor am I

Uses "am" when the initial statement is in the present tense.

I haven't been either

Combines "haven't" with "either" to echo a negative present perfect statement.

I wasn't going to either

Adds the element of intention ("going to") while still maintaining the negative agreement.

I did not either

Uses "did not" with "either" as a more explicit way to express negative agreement.

FAQs

How to use "nor was I" in a sentence?

Use "nor was I" to indicate that you share the same negative condition or experience as someone else. For example, if someone says, "I wasn't invited", you could respond, "nor was I".

What can I say instead of "nor was I"?

You can use alternatives like "neither was I" or "I wasn't either" depending on the context.

Is "nor was I" formal or informal?

"Nor was I" is generally considered more formal than "I wasn't either", but it is appropriate for both written and spoken English in many contexts.

Is it ever correct to say "nor I"?

While grammatically possible, "nor I" is less common and can sound incomplete. It's usually better to use the full phrase "nor was I" or "neither was I" for clarity.