(neither) nor

[Seán Fitzpatrick]

I think it is what we out here in the real world would call a mistake.

Nor can be paired with negators other than "neither", but it cannot cast
negation back over the preceding clause or phrase--both of the joined
elements must be explicitly negated.

"He cannot find anyone now, nor does he expect to find anyone in the
future."—The American Heritage® Book of English Usage
(http://www.bartleby.com/64/C001/040.html)
" Nor is also Standard in other negative statements, as in 'I didn’t want
dessert, nor did I want coffee'."—The Columbia Guide to Standard American
English  (http://www.bartleby.com/68/8/4108.html)

Seán Fitzpatrick
It’s a Gnostic thing. You wouldn't understand.
http://www.logomachon.blogspot.com/
-----Original Message-----
From: Scot LaFaive [mailto:spiderrmonkey at HOTMAIL.COM]
Sent: Tuesday, 08 May, 2007 11:15
Subject: Re: (neither) nor

I believe I have. It at least doesn't sound too foreign to me.

Scot LaFaive


>From: Beverly Flanigan <flanigan at OHIO.EDU>
>Reply-To: American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
>To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
>Subject: (neither) nor
>Date: Tue, 8 May 2007 10:25:40 -0400
>
>---------------------- Information from the mail header
>-----------------------
>Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
>Poster:       Beverly Flanigan <flanigan at OHIO.EDU>
>Subject:      (neither) nor
>---------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
>
>Has anyone ever heard this kind of phrase sans "neither":
>"Kent Smith nor anyone from that office was present . . . ."
>The meaning was clearly "neither KS nor anyone else ...."
>
>Beverly Flanigan
>
>------------------------------------------------------------
>The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org

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