What Does “Neither Nor” Mean?
“Neither nor” is a correlative conjunction pair used to express negation. It conveys the idea that two or more things are not true, valid, or happening simultaneously. For example, when you say, “Neither John nor Mary went to the party,” you communicate that John did not go to the party and Mary did not go as well.
In essence, “neither” negates the first option, and “nor” continues that negation for the subsequent option(s). This succinct phrase helps you combine two negative statements into one concise sentence. By mastering the usage of “neither nor,” you will avoid redundancy like “John did not go to the party, and Mary also did not go to the party.” Instead, you can cleanly connect both negatives: “Neither John nor Mary went to the party.”
Basic Rules and Structure
Position and Agreement
When you use “neither nor,” you should remember these fundamental rules:
- Parallel Structure:
The elements following “neither” and “nor” must be parallel in form. Parallel structure means you should use the same parts of speech (e.g., two nouns, two verbs, two adjectives, etc.). For example:- Correct: “Neither swimming nor running appeals to me.”
- Incorrect: “Neither to swim nor running appeals to me.”
- Subject-Verb Agreement:
If the subjects following “neither” and “nor” are singular, then the verb should typically be singular. Conversely, if the subjects are plural, use a plural verb. However, if the subjects differ in number, the verb usually agrees with the closest subject. For instance:- Singular subjects: “Neither Jane nor Mark wants to leave early.”
- Plural subjects: “Neither the managers nor the employees are satisfied.”
- Mixed number: “Neither the manager nor the employees want to postpone the meeting.” (Here, the verb agrees with the plural subject ‘employees.’)
- Negation:
“Neither” introduces the negative idea. “Nor” continues the negation for the second element. Make sure you don’t mix “neither” with other negative words like “not” inappropriately. For instance, avoid saying: “Neither John nor Mary didn’t go to the party.” This structure confuses the meaning because the double negative can imply they did go to the party.
Placement in the Sentence
The most straightforward placement of “neither nor” is in the subject position. However, you can also place it elsewhere:
- Subject: “Neither the CEO nor the CFO attended the conference.”
- Object: “The company hired neither consultants nor advisors for the project.”
- Within a Series: “He neither phoned, nor texted, nor emailed throughout his vacation.”
In all these cases, “neither nor” functions consistently to deny multiple elements.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Double Negatives
One of the most frequent errors is accidentally using an extra negative word like “not,” “no,” or “never” alongside “neither nor.” Here’s a typical problematic sentence:
- Incorrect: “I did not speak to neither John nor Mary.”
- Correct: “I spoke to neither John nor Mary.” OR “I did not speak to John or Mary.”
The second example replaces “neither nor” with a different structure. Notice how using “not” changes the sentence to “I did not speak to John or Mary” instead of “neither nor.” Avoid combining “not” with “neither” to prevent confusion and maintain grammatical clarity.
Lack of Parallelism
Parallelism means consistency in grammatical forms. A sentence like “He is interested in neither playing sports nor to watch movies” disrupts the flow. Instead, aim for the same verb forms:
- Correct: “He is interested in neither playing sports nor watching movies.”
This approach maintains uniformity and makes your writing smoother.
Mismatched Verbs
The subject-verb agreement can get tricky when you have multiple subjects. Pay attention to the closest subject if you have a mix of singular and plural:
- Mixed Example: “Neither the teacher nor the students were excited about the rescheduled exam.”
- Here, “students” is the closest subject to the verb, so the sentence uses the plural verb “were.”
Excessive Use in a Single Sentence
While “neither nor” can be used in lists of more than two items, overly complicated sentences can confuse readers. For clarity, consider an example:
- Long List Example: “Neither the CEO, nor the CFO, nor the HR manager, nor the project leads attended the meeting.”
The sentence is correct, but it might feel cumbersome. You could rewrite it:
- “None of the CEO, CFO, HR manager, or project leads attended the meeting.”
Depending on your style and tone, you may prefer a more straightforward expression when listing more than two items.
Using “Neither Nor” in Different Tenses
Present Tense
In the present tense, “neither nor” can connect statements about current facts or ongoing situations:
- “Neither my brother nor my sister likes spicy food.”
(Both siblings currently do not like spicy food.)
Past Tense
Use “neither nor” to describe situations or events that did not happen in the past:
- “Neither the guests nor the hosts knew about the surprise.”
(Both parties were unaware in the past.)
Future Tense
When you want to talk about something that will not happen:
- “Neither the event organizer nor the participants will attend the post-conference dinner.”
(No one will attend in the future.)
Perfect Tense
“Neither nor” works smoothly with perfect tenses as well:
- Present Perfect: “Neither Sam nor Alex has finished the assignment.”
- Past Perfect: “Neither the coach nor the team had practiced enough before the finals.”
- Future Perfect: “Neither the caterer nor the florist will have arrived by the time the rehearsal starts.”
Advanced Uses of “Neither Nor”
Emphatic Placement
You can place “neither” at the beginning of a sentence for emphasis. This placement often appears in more formal or literary contexts:
- “Neither had she seen such a beautiful sunset nor had she dreamt of a moment so serene.”
Although correct, this structure can sound a bit archaic or overly formal in casual conversation. Still, it can add a dramatic flair in writing, especially in fiction or persuasive essays.
Balanced Comparisons
Sometimes, “neither nor” helps you create balanced comparisons. For example:
- “Her argument was neither convincing nor complete.”
This structure pairs two related adjectives to indicate that both qualities are missing.
In Rhetorical or Persuasive Writing
You can use “neither nor” to build rhetoric or emphasize a point. Consider a persuasive context:
- “Neither ignorance nor apathy can solve the climate crisis.”
This sentence underscores that both ignorance and apathy are ineffective solutions, helping the speaker stress urgency in a concise manner.
Punctuation Guidelines
Commas
In most cases, you do not need commas before or after “neither” and “nor.” However, you might use commas in more complex sentence structures or lists with three or more elements:
- No Comma: “Neither the front door nor the back door was locked.”
- List of Three: “Neither the cat, nor the dog, nor the parrot seemed hungry.”
Even in a list of three, many style guides suggest avoiding excessive commas with “neither nor” to maintain clarity.
Semicolons
If each element connected by “neither nor” is an independent clause (a clause that can stand alone as a sentence), you might need semicolons. However, this usage is less common and often seen in academic or highly formal writing:
- “Neither did he bring any equipment; nor did his colleagues remember to bring additional supplies.”
Ensure that each clause can stand as a sentence independently. If you are in doubt, opt for a simpler structure.
Practical Examples
Real-Life Scenarios
- Office Environment:
- “Neither the marketing team nor the sales team met their quarterly targets.”
- “Neither the printers nor the scanners are working today.”
- Academic Setting:
- “Neither the professor nor the students found the textbook helpful.”
- “Neither the research methods nor the survey questions were valid for this study.”
- Everyday Conversations:
- “I want neither coffee nor tea right now.”
- “He asked for neither extra sauce nor side dishes.”
- Travel Context:
- “Neither the bus nor the train is departing on time.”
- “Neither my luggage nor my passport was lost during the trip.”
Exercise Samples
- Fill in the blanks:
- “_______ the thunder _______ the lightning scared the campers.”
- “They invited _______ Ryan _______ Lara to the wedding.”
- “_______ the manager _______ the interns arrived early.”
- “Neither the thunder nor the lightning scared the campers.”
- “They invited neither Ryan nor Lara to the wedding.”
- “Neither the manager nor the interns arrived early.”
Alternative Expressions and Synonyms
Although “neither nor” is a staple of the English language, you may sometimes want to express a similar sentiment with different words:
- “Not either … or”
- Instead of: “Neither the teachers nor the students wanted an early morning class.”
- You can say: “The teachers didn’t want an early morning class, and the students didn’t either.”
- “No one / None of the / Nobody”
- Instead of: “Neither John nor Sarah attended the meeting.”
- You can say: “Nobody attended the meeting.” (But note that this form is more generalized— it does not specify who didn’t attend.)
- “Not … or …”
- Instead of: “We decided neither to play outside nor to watch TV.”
- You can say: “We decided not to play outside or watch TV.”
These alternatives can vary in nuance, clarity, and emphasis. “Neither nor” still remains the most direct construction for negating two distinct elements, so weigh your options based on context and style.
Tips for Mastering “Neither Nor”
Read Widely and Observe
The best way to internalize grammar rules is to see them in action. Notice how authors and journalists use “neither nor” in articles, books, and online content. Pay attention to the structure, parallelism, and subject-verb agreement.
Practice with Writing Exercises
Dedicate a few minutes each day to craft sentences with “neither nor.” Vary the tenses, switch around the placement in the sentence, and challenge yourself to maintain clarity. Consider turning it into a game: pick two unrelated items and connect them with “neither nor.”
Get Feedback
Whether you are learning English as a second language or polishing your existing skills, feedback is crucial. Ask a teacher, colleague, or friend to review your sentences. They might spot inconsistencies or awkward phrasing you could miss on your own.
Use Grammar Tools
Several grammar-checking tools can flag issues with “neither nor” usage. Although these tools aren’t perfect, they can help you identify potential mistakes quickly.
Don’t Overdo It
While “neither nor” is extremely useful, avoid overusing it. Sometimes a simpler sentence construction, such as using “not” with “or,” might fit your style better. Reserve “neither nor” for cases where you need absolute clarity about negating two or more elements.
Conclusion
Mastering “neither nor” can make a noticeable difference in how clearly and effectively you communicate in English. This correlative conjunction allows you to negate two (or more) elements succinctly, ensuring your readers or listeners quickly grasp your intended meaning. It also helps you maintain a parallel structure, which strengthens the rhythm and clarity of your writing and speech.
Remember these key points for using “neither nor” correctly:
- Maintain parallel structure by keeping the same grammatical forms after “neither” and “nor.”
- Ensure your subject-verb agreement aligns with the number of the closest subject.
- Avoid double negatives, and don’t overuse other negative words such as “not” when you already have “neither nor.”
- Use punctuation wisely, avoiding unnecessary commas or misplaced semicolons.
- Feel free to add emphasis or dramatic effect by placing “neither” at the start of a sentence, but keep it sparing for maximum impact.
By incorporating these rules, practicing regularly, and paying close attention to established examples, you will become confident in using “neither nor” in various contexts. Whether you are writing a formal letter, crafting an academic paper, or simply sharing updates with friends on social media, your ability to communicate negative statements with clarity will reflect your command of the English language.
Disclaimer: This blog post is intended for general informational and educational purposes only. While we strive to provide accurate and up-to-date grammar guidance, the rules and examples presented here may vary by region, dialect, or style guide. For personalized advice or specific academic and professional requirements, please consult a qualified educator, editor, or language specialist.
