word choice - Use "or" or "nor"?



I've always wondered this but never asked. Given this statement:



Energy can be neither created nor destroyed.



Should it be or or nor? This is on Wikipedia so they are probably correct in saying nor but why is this so? In my opinion it sounds like it should be or.


The more I think of it the more I think it can be left up to interpretation or emphasis. For example, it could be interpreted to mean:



Energy = ¬Created ∨ ¬Destroyed



or



Energy = ¬(Created ∨ Destroyed)



Some help here?



Answer



Neither always goes with nor and either always goes with or, without exception. You certainly can retain or in the negative sense, but not in conjunction with neither. Thus, your notations would be translated into complete sentences thus:




  • Energy = ¬Created ∨ ¬Destroyed ⇒ Energy can be neither created nor destroyed.

  • Energy = ¬(Created ∨ Destroyed) ⇒ Energy cannot be created or destroyed.



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