Or, nor or neither?
Using the word ‘or’ is a no-brainer for most people. As a way of offering two alternative things, we use the word ‘or’ in everyday speech without thinking or worrying about it.
- I can be happy or sad, depending on the weather
- Would you prefer to ride the elephant or the rhino?
What about the word ‘nor’? It’s not quite so straight forward… ‘Nor’ often sounds a bit formal, a bit awkward and perhaps a bit old fashioned, so many of us abandon it altogether, but when things turn negative ‘nor’ should step in:
- I feel neither happy nor sad when it rains
- Neither elephants nor rhinos are found in this zoo
Confused? Let’s get practical. Take a look at these sentences:
Which one is correct?
A: I’m not bored or tiered, I just can’t be bothered
B: I’m not bored nor tiered, I just can’t be bothered
Answer: B
A: There aren’t any antelopes nor any dogs here
B: There aren’t any antelopes or any dogs here
Answer: A
Hope that helps. Continuing the mission to stamp out sloppy copy, look out for my next blog on ‘IS or ARE.’
Looking for a Brighton copywriter with a grip on grammar? I’m here