can neither be/ can be neither

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sdpegasus

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It can neither be called outrage nor pro revolution.
or
It can be called neither an outrage nor pro revolution.


which one of the two structures is correct?
 
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Barb_D

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The parts of speech that come after "neither" and "nor" have to be parallel.

Neither [noun phrase] nor [noun phrase]
Neither [verb phrase] nor [verb phrase]

It can neither be called an outrage nor called a pro revolution (whatever that is).
It can be called neither an outrage nor a pro revolution.
 

anhnha

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Is this also correct?
It can neither be called an outrage nor be called a pro revolution.
 

Barb_D

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Yes, that's actually better than the one I provided, because mine assumes/infers the "be."

It can be neither this nor that.
It can neither be this nor be that.
It can neither be this nor [inferred be] that.
 

MikeNewYork

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The parts of speech that come after "neither" and "nor" have to be parallel.

Neither [noun phrase] nor [noun phrase]
Neither [verb phrase] nor [verb phrase]

It can neither be called an outrage nor called a pro revolution (whatever that is).
It can be called neither an outrage nor a pro revolution.

I have never come across "pro revolution" used as a noun. I have only seen an adjectival use.
 
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