neither ... nor

neither ... nor

In writing and formal speech, neither and nor are used for linking two words or expressions in order to make a negative statement about two people, things, qualities, or actions. You put neither in front of the first word or expression and nor in front of the second one.

For example, instead of saying 'The President did not come and the Vice-President did not come' you can say 'Neither the President nor the Vice-President came'.

In conversation and in less formal writing, people sometimes use or after neither. For example, they say 'He neither drinks or smokes'. However, in formal writing you should always use nor.

You always put neither immediately in front of the first of the words or expressions that are linked by nor. Don't put it any earlier in the sentence. Don't say, for example, 'She neither ate meat nor fish'. You say 'She ate neither meat nor fish'.

In conversation, people do not usually use neither and nor. Instead of saying 'Neither the President nor the Vice-President came', you normally say 'The President didn't come and neither did the Vice-President'.

Instead of saying 'She ate neither meat nor fish', you normally say 'She didn't eat meat or fish'. Instead of saying 'She neither smokes nor drinks', you say 'She doesn't smoke or drink'.