rather nor

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase you have suggested is not correct and would not be used in written English.
Rather, the correct phrase to use is "either/or." For example: I can either go outside and play basketball, or I can stay inside and watch television.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Neither Mr. Rather nor MSNBC returned repeated calls for comment.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

An alternative hypothesis is that the regulatory unit in nucleolar dominance is the NOR, rather than each individual rRNA gene, in which case NOR localization may be essential for rRNA gene silencing.

Plosone

(De Roover wouldn't comment further. "I'd rather he nor his cause have any more attention given to them," he wrote in an email to VICE).

Vice

(That's part of what renders them rather mesmerizing). Nor does it work to label them "travel sketches". Despite their brevity, these are deeply layered, richly allusive and -- in the best sense of the word -- demanding, wholly original pieces.

Los Angeles Times

Our results suggest that the strength of TCR signaling does not influence survival of CD8+ effectors or memory precursors by regulating Bim expression but rather by controlling Nor-1 expression level.

Plosone

Leal-Mesquita [ 37] observed that G-banding patterns flanking the Ag-NORs are rather conservative across different echimyid species.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Nevertheless, soil genesis and properties in the páramo is rather poorly understood, nor are their ecological functions well documented.

Geomorphology

As long as fees do not go up unbearably in any one year, parents, like frogs in slowly boiled water, stay rather than jump.Nor can new competitors easily creep in and undercut incumbents.

The Economist

"I was still thinking of myself as just a visitor, or rather neither here nor there," she writes, "someone undertaking an abstract inquiry but not yet with true intention".

The New Yorker

The evidence that shifting the top tax bracket by a couple of percentage points has any measurable effect on the economy is rather weak.Nor is it fair to say that ClintonCare or, say, Social Security privatisation, had much solid theoretical economic justification.

The Economist

27 1 "Therefore let no one count him a Roman, but rather an Egyptian, nor call him Antony, but rather Serapion; let no one think he was ever consul or imperator, but only gymnasiarch. 2 For he has himself, of his own free will, chosen the latter names instead of the former, and casting aside all the august titles of his own land, has become one of the cymbal players from Canopus.

University of Chicago

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "rather nor" in formal writing. It is generally considered grammatically incorrect. Opt for "rather than" or "neither nor" depending on your intended meaning.

Common error

Writers sometimes mistakenly use "rather nor" when they intend to express a preference or exclusion. Ensure you use "rather than" to indicate preference, or "neither nor" to negate two options.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rather nor" is primarily used as an incorrect conjunction, attempting to connect two elements while expressing a preference or negation. This usage deviates from standard grammatical conventions, as highlighted by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Academia

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "rather nor" is generally considered grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in formal writing. As Ludwig AI points out, it is better to use alternatives like "rather than" for expressing preference or "neither nor" for negation. Although examples can be found across various sources, including News & Media and Science, its infrequent and incorrect usage makes it unsuitable for professional or academic contexts. Focus on using grammatically correct alternatives to ensure clarity and accuracy in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

rather than

Indicates a preference for one thing over another, similar to "instead of".

either or

Emphasizes a choice between two distinct options.

neither nor

Used to negate two connected ideas or options.

instead of

Indicates a preference or substitution of one thing for another.

as opposed to

Highlights a contrast between two things.

in place of

Similar to "instead of", suggesting a direct replacement.

alternatively

Introduces another possibility or option.

as an alternative to

Presents something as a different option.

on the contrary

Used to strongly negate a previous statement and introduce an opposing one.

by contrast

Highlights differences between two things being compared.

FAQs

Is "rather nor" grammatically correct?

No, the phrase "rather nor" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. Use "rather than" to show preference or "neither nor" to negate two options.

When should I use "rather than" instead of "rather nor"?

"Rather than" is used to indicate a preference. For example, "I would prefer to stay home rather than go out."

What's the correct way to use "neither" and "nor" in a sentence?

Use "neither nor" to indicate that two options are not true or possible. For example, "He is neither rich nor famous."

What are some alternatives to "rather nor" for expressing a preference?

Alternatives to "rather nor" include "instead of", "as opposed to", or simply restructuring the sentence to use "prefer".