Thread: Neither... nor issue.

"Notice: by the present offer I do not represent any transportation agency, nor any other legal entity".

Is it correct to say so, esp. from the point of view of double negation?

Originally Posted by Mist

"Notice: by the present offer I do not represent any transportation agency, nor any other legal entity".

Is it correct to say so, esp. from the point of view of double negation?

Okay, I am not the expert here even though I am native English speaker; however, I would write it as this:

Notice: By presenting this offer I neither represent any transportation agency nor any legal entity.

1) I changed the "by the present" to "presenting" as you are actually "presenting" the offer.
2) I don't think you need the "other" as you are already stating ANY legal entity, so I feel it is a bit redundant.


While these are not exactly like what your situation is... here are some examples from a real "legal notice" documents using "neither and nor":

Neither Agent nor his employees or assignees has authority to represent Matson America in any other capacity without prior written approval from Matson America.

The Contractor shall neither represent the Commission nor behave in any way that would give such an impression.

NEITHER VIATAS NOR ITS SUBSIDIARIES, PARTNERS, AFFILIATES, VENDORS OR SUBCONTRACTORS MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO THE OPERATION OF THE WEB SITE OR SERVICES OR THE INFORMATION MADE AVAILABLE BY OR THROUGH THE WEB SITE OR THE SERVICES

Originally Posted by rockzmom

Notice: By presenting this offer I neither represent any transportation agency nor any legal entity.

I thought so.))

Originally Posted by rockzmom

2) I don't think you need the "other" as you are already stating ANY legal entity, so I feel it is a bit redundant.

I added "other", because the author focuses on his being a physical person as opposed to legal one. He doesn't want to be associated with all kinds of legal entities, not only with those that may provide similar services.

Originally Posted by Mist

I added "other", because the author focuses on his being a physical person as opposed to legal one. He doesn't want to be associated with all kinds of legal entities, not only with those that may provide similar services.

Okay, point taken... How about this?
Notice: By presenting this offer I neither represent any transportation agencies nor any legal entities.

If he is concerced about that, let's switch it to plurals then for both the transportaion and legal. If you or he still feels strongly, throw the "other" back in there.

If what worries you is the construction "not....nor" itself and not that particular sentence, then this is what the "Practical English Usage" has to say about it:

not... nor

Nor can follow not, especially after a pause; it is more emphatic than or.
She didn't phone that day, nor the next day. (More emphatic than... that day or the next day.) (not... [s:bpx80ylv]neither the next day.[/s:bpx80ylv])
Our main need is not food, nor money. It is education.

Originally Posted by rockzmom

How about this?
Notice: By presenting this offer I neither represent any transportation agencies nor any legal entities.

Sounds well, that should do the job.

Originally Posted by E-learner

this is what the "Practical English Usage" has to say about it:
Nor can follow not, especially after a pause;

That means my 1st variant was ok from the point of view of grammar?

Notice: By presenting this offer I neither represent any transportation agency nor any legal entity.

I recommend "Notice: By presenting this offer I represent neither a transportation agency nor any other legal entity."
If you put "neither" before the verb, then it sounds kind of like you are comparing two verbs. Compare "I neither do this nor do I do that" with "I do neither this nor that".

Sounds good, that should do the job.

I added "other", because the author focuses on his being a physical person as opposed to a legal one. He doesn't want to be associated with all kinds of legal entities, not only (not clear) with those that may provide similar services.
Is it correct to say this

Okay, what about a third option here working off your first draft???

"Notice: By presenting this offer I do not represent any transportation agency or any other legal entity".

This way you don't have to worry about where the "neither" goes and you get to keep your "other."

Will that work for you? And how do you feel about it basurero??

Notice: By presenting this offer I represent neither a transportation agency nor any other legal entity.

Isn't 'a' better here than 'any'?

Originally Posted by Ramil

Notice: By presenting this offer I represent neither a transportation agency nor any other legal entity.

Isn't 'a' better here than 'any'?

No. "A" is too vague for this sort of statement. In casual speech it would be acceptable, but "any" is much better, particularly when trying to be precise in a business communication.