Or and nor

I know that 'nor' follows a 'neither', but does 'nor' always follow a negative, even if 'neither' isn't part of the sentence, or is it not that simple?

For example, the negative 'not' in the sentence, makes me ask if I should follow it with 'nor' or 'or'.

I pulled away, indistinctly heading for town until I realised we'd not even discussed route or destination.

I pulled away, indistinctly heading for town until I realised we'd not even discussed route nor destination.

'Nor' doesn't sound right out of the mouth, but I'm unsure.

 

I think not even ==> neither and therefore nor. It feels strange because you have worded it hmmmmm too "efficiently"?

I pulled away, indistinctly heading for town until I realised we'd not discussed the route or the destination.

perhaps?

Yeah reading it out loud it's OR now - but only coz it's worded ugly.

 

Yes, much better! Will you be my editor, please?

 

Wait.

Logically NOT (A or B) == NOT A and NOT B

so:

NOT (the route or the destination) == neither (not) the route (and) nor (not) the destination.

Therefor I would go with OR using your NOT structure. The structure which I dislike.

If in doubt, rewrite

 

ie

I pulled away, indistinctly heading for town until I realised we'd not discussed (the route or the destination). NOT (A or B)

I pulled away, indistinctly heading for town until I realised we'd discussed neither the route (and) nor the destination. NOT A (and) NOT B

I believe these are the correct forms, but prefer the use of the neither version as it feels more natural or something. Until I read it out loud. Or is gooderer then.

 

This is how I wrote it first (without the two instances of 'the'), but then thought it sounded a bit 'academic'. I don't think any 'average Joe' would say that line in such a way, would they?

 

I think in first-person it's important to keep narrative style consistent with dialogue, as they're the same person.

 

Agreed. The "or" version does feel more natural saying them both out loud.

I would also lean towards "we hadn't discussed" vs "we'd not discussed", but that may be cultural.

 

Yes agreed.

 

Cheers - I'll suss it. There's a ton of different ways I can get exactly the same info across. Must stop getting bogged down with stupid trivialities like this.

 

It's 'or' and it's a common mistake to use 'nor' without 'neither'.

 

There is an easy trick to figuring this out but I totally forget it right now. I can't seem to get my mind off tacos.

 

Or.
http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/when-use-nor?page=1

But if this is supposed to be in the character's voice, then just use whatever they would use, right or wrong.