can I think that the meaning of the two is the same?
***** NOT A TEACHER *****
I think (repeat: think) that the answer is YES.
(1) I was reminded of Mr. Michael Swan's advice (
Practical English Usage, 1995 edition, page 359, entry 364.3):
She did not phone that day or the next day. / She did not phone that day, nor the next day.
Our main need is not food or money. / Our main need is not food, nor money. It is education.
Mr. Swan explains: "
Nor can follow
not, especially after a pause [comma]; it is
more emphatic [my emphasis] than
or."
(2) I found this on
dictionary.reference.com:
"They will not wait for you, nor for me, nor for anybody."
(a) That sentence seems to be a good example of Mr. Swan's contention that "nor" is "more emphatic." I think that it is certainly
stronger than "They will not wait for you, or [for] me, or [for] anybody."
*****
Therefore (I think):
It was not my fault or his.
It was not my fault,
nor was it his!
*****
P.S. I wish to credit a "Tanit" in a June 23, 2008, post at another leading grammar helpline for reminding me about Mr. Swan's advice.