not nor

USAGE SUMMARY

The usage of "not nor" is correct and can be used in written English.
For example, "She was neither happy nor sad, but rather not nor."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Mariela did not, nor did Aaliyah.

The New York Times

Often they do not; nor do economists.

The Economist

Of course not, nor should they be.

The Washington Post

It's not, nor ever has been.

The Guardian

The United States is not, nor are its local partners.

The New York Times

It could not, nor did not, last long.

The New York Times - Sports

It is not – nor has it ever been – about sharing.

The Guardian - Tech

I am not, nor is this idea discriminatory.

The Washington Post

This is not — nor should it be — an easy book.

The New York Times - Books

Ramsgate is not, nor could ever be mistaken for, Whitstable.

Independent

"It is not, nor has it ever been".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "not nor" to connect two negative statements, ensuring parallelism in the grammatical structure of the clauses being joined. For example, "He is not happy, nor is he sad."

Common error

Avoid using "not nor" to connect a negative statement with a positive one. Instead of saying "She is not going, nor is he staying", which is incorrect, use "She is not going, and he is staying" to accurately convey the intended meaning.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "not nor" is as a coordinating conjunction that joins two negative clauses or phrases. Ludwig AI confirms this, showing examples where it connects negative statements in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Academia

14%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Science

3%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "not nor" functions as a coordinating conjunction, connecting two negative clauses. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness, supported by numerous examples from diverse sources, primarily News & Media. The phrase is used to reinforce or extend a negative statement, and its register ranges from neutral to formal. While grammatically sound, ""neither nor"" is often preferred stylistically. Remember to use "not nor" to link negative statements, avoiding its misuse with positive statements. Be mindful of context to ensure the most appropriate and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

neither nor

Emphasizes a double negative, indicating that two options are not true or applicable.

nor ever

Emphasizes that something is not the case now, and never has been.

not and

Indicates that something is not one thing and also not another.

not or

Expresses that something is not one thing or the other.

without

Implies the absence of something, serving as a negative marker.

not even

Emphasizes that something is not the case, to a surprising degree.

never

Simply indicates the absence of something at any time.

not at all

Indicates a complete absence or negation.

not in any way

Emphasizes the negation, indicating no aspect of something is true.

in no way

Functions similarly to "not in any way", emphasizing the absence.

FAQs

How can I use "not nor" in a sentence?

The phrase "not nor" is used to connect two negative statements. For example: "He is "not nor" will not attend the meeting."

What's a good alternative to "not nor"?

A common alternative is "neither nor", which serves a similar function in connecting negative statements. For example: "He is neither happy nor sad."

Is it grammatically correct to use "not nor"?

Yes, the phrase "not nor" is grammatically correct when used to join two negative clauses. However, "neither nor" is often considered more formal and stylistically preferred in modern English.

What is the difference between "not nor" and "neither nor"?

"Neither nor" provides a more concise way to express a double negative, while "not nor" often requires a more structured sentence to maintain grammatical correctness. Functionally, they serve the same purpose.