Grammar-Quizzes › Connectors › Coordinators › Either / Neither (n)or

Either…or / Neither…nor

Express one or the other or both

Choice vs. Preference

brawn (N) — muscular strength

subtly (Adv) — in a manner that is fine, delicate in meaning or intent; subtle(Adj)

track and field — a sport that includes running, jumping, throwing (discus or javelin)

Related content Whether or not, Prefer X to Y , Adv for Focus (either…or / neither…nor)

When or connects two sentence elements, no comma is used.  When three or more elements are joined, a comma is used.

Also see Both and / Not only…but also   and Pop-Q "Or".

 

 

 

 

And, But not, Or

Express conjunction, exclusion, disjunction

And vs. But not vs. Or

AND—BOTH	BUT—NOT ONE	OR—NOT BOTH
And expresses one and the other—both. This is conjunction. Hurdling and pole vaulting are your options.	But not expresses one but not the other. This is exclusion. Hurdling but not pole vaulting is your option.	Or expresses one or the other—not both. This is disjunction. Hurdling or pole vaulting is your option.

and— See And / In addition  ("and" conjunction)

but—See But / But still ("but" disjunction)

Also see Both and / Not only…but also

 

 

AND, OR, NOT

Compare Boolean Operators

Boolean operators and the problem with "or" in English usage

Boolean operators are used in math (Algebra) and science. In fact, your web browser uses them to search for the keywords your enter. Using Boolean operators, you can include or exclude items returned in your search. The meaning of these terms differ slightly in English usage. Compare the use of "and" conjunction, "or" disjunction, "not" negation in Boolean usage to English usage.

AND	OR	NOT
And is the overlap of the two fields, X ∧Y. in Boolean logic. These are items common to (belonging to) both X [pink] and Y [blue].	Or is the union of the two fields (items in either X or Y) X ∨ Y in Boolean logic. In English usage, it may mean [1] "exclusion" and/or [2] "inclusion".	Not / Neither…nor is the complement of the field. Something outside of the circles.
BOOLEAN OPERATOR	BOOLEAN OPERATOR	BOOLEAN OPERATOR
AND – CONJUNCTION OF X ∧ Y	OR – DISJUNCTION OF X ∨ Y	NOT – NEGATION ¬X ¬Y
FIND shoes for running and hiking. — Shoes suitable for both activities. "overlap" (purple)	FIND shoes for running or hiking. — shoes suitable for either activity. "joined" (purple)	FIND shoes that are not for walking or hiking. — shoes suitable for other activities (tennis, golf, dancing, formal, etc.)
ENGLISH TERM	ENGLISH TERM	ENGLISH TERM
AND — CONJUNCTION OF X AND Y	OR – OPTION TO EXCLUDE X OR Y	NOT – NEGATION NOT X, NOT Y
I would like some running and some hiking shoes. I'd like two pairs, both. (addition)	I would like some running or hiking shoes.  I'd like one kind of shoe, not both kinds. Choose one of two different options. (exclusion of one)	I want neither running nor hiking shoes. I would like some other kind of shoe. (exclusion)
	OR – OPTION TO INCLUDE X AND Y
	I would like some running or hiking shoes. I'd like one pair of shoes to do running or/and hiking. The options are similar; no preference is stated. You can find them at Macy's or/and Target. Both stores carry them. (inclusion both)

See Boolean Operators, Venn Diagrams and Advanced Google Search (which uses "and" +, "not" - , "or".)

Activity: Do a Boolean search in your web browser for "sting", for example, sting | sting +bee -musician | sting -bees, -wasps.

 

MEANING	SENTENCE
POSITIVE VERB
Or—not both Or— both¹	That store sells Nike or Adidas. (They have one brand; not both—uncertain which one) You can buy the shoes at Macy's or Penney's. (One or the other / Both.)
Either…or—not both Either…or—both	That store sells either Nike or Adidas. (Uncertain which one) You can buy the shoes at either Macy's or Penney's.  (Uncertain which one / Both)
*Nor	That store sells Nike nor Adidas. (not commonly used alone) He wants bread nor water.  (Biblical or archaic speech)
Neither…nor—both not	That store sells neither Nike nor Adidas. (Both not carried) You can buy the shoes at neither Macy's nor Penney's.  (Both not)
NEGATIVE VERB
Or—both not / not both Either…or—Both not / not both¹	They don't sell Nike or Adidas.  (Both not / Not both—uncertain which one) They don't sell either Nike or Adidas.  (Both not / not both—uncertain which brand)
*Nor *Neither…nor	*They don't sell Nike nor Adidas.  *They don't sell neither Nike nor Adidas. (not optional either)
CONNECTIVE
Nor—and not, also not	They don't sell Adidas, nor do they think² it necessary. They don't sell Adidas; nor do they think it necessary. They don't sell Adidas. Nor do they  think it necessary.  They don't sell Adidas. They do not  think it necessary.

brand (N) — manufacturer, marketer that sells a product  e.g., Nike, Adidas, Coca Cola, Ford.

¹ Context and further questioning are needed to understand the intended meaning when two meanings are possible.

² Nor is a coordinator (connective) that requires auxiliary verb support when placed at the beginning of the clause. (S-V inversion)

 

 

 

 

Either…or / Neither…nor

Coordinate two clause elements

 

 

Or vs. Either…or

 

 

 

Search for usage in the BYU COCA database.

A comma is optionally placed before or and the final item in a series of items.

Also see Negatives.

Some linguists include either and neither as a focusing adverbs and others do not. See Grammar Notes below.

(Huddleston 388)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Or Coordinates

Coordinate singular or plural items

 

Or—Verb Agreement with Coordinated Nouns

(Huddleston 508)

 

 

Or / Nor —Verb Agreement with Coordinated Personal Nouns

(Garner 564)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common Mistakes

Errors and Solutions

 

 

Error and Solution

*Yellow highlighted words are examples of incorrect usage.

 

 

 

 

 

► Show Grammar Notes and Works Cited ▼ Hide Grammar Notes