Reference > Usage > American Heritage® Book of English Usage > 2. Style > § 4. either … or / neither … nor
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The American Heritage® Book of English Usage.
A Practical and Authoritative Guide to Contemporary English.  1996.

2. Style: Parallelism, Passives, Redundancy, and Wordiness

§ 4. either … or / neither … nor


You should follow both conjunctions in either … or … (or neither … nor …) constructions with parallel elements. If you follow either with a verb and an object, or must have a verb and an object as well. Thus you should say She can either take the examination offered to all applicants or ask for a personal interview but not She can take either the examination offered to all applicants or ask for a personal interview. Similarly, you should say You may have either the ring or the bracelet but not You may either have the ring or the bracelet.    1


The American Heritage® Book of English Usage. Copyright © 1996 by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
 
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