[General] The use of "nor" without "neither"

[Olympian]

Hello,

Does the following sentence sound strange or is it correct?

Assange is wanted in Sweden to face allegations of sexual offenses against two women, charges he denies, but the United States nor any other country has lodged any charges against him over the leaked documents.

​

Should this be "neither the United States nor any other country has lodged"? I don't know if this is a mistake or a typo. Without the "neither" it would mean the US has lodged charges?

Thank you.

 

[2006]

But it is possible to use 'nor' without 'neither'.

The United States has not laid any charges against him, nor has any other country.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/nor

 

[TheParser]

Hello,

Does the following sentence sound strange or is it correct?

Assange is wanted in Sweden to face allegations of sexual offenses against two women, charges he denies, but the United States nor any other country has lodged any charges against him over the leaked documents.

​

Should this be "neither the United States nor any other country has lodged"? I don't know if this is a mistake or a typo. Without the "neither" it would mean the US has lodged charges?

Thank you.

***** NOT A TEACHER *****


Olympian,


I thought that you would find interesting the fact that in older

English (especially in poetry), neither was sometimes omitted.

As Mr. Eric Partridge explained in his Usage and Abusage (1947):

THE NOR CASTS BACKWARD AS WELL AS FORWARD.

*****

Mr. Partridge gives three delightful examples:

They threatened that the cage nor irons should serve their
turn. -- John Bunyan (English writer)

She nor her daughters were .... -- Jane Austen (English writer)

My father, nor his father before him, ever saw it otherwise.
-- source not given.

And Professor George O. Curme in his magnificent two-volume

A Grammar of the English Language gives this line from

Alfred Tennyson, English poet:

Great brother, thou [you] nor I have made the world.


HAVE A NICE DAY

 

[BobK]

:up: This archaic usage frequently shows up in nursery rhymes:

Oats peas beans and barley grow
Oats peas beans and barley grow
Nor[?t] you nor I nor anyone know
How oats peas beans and barley grow?
​

b

PS These words are often 'repaired' to the less ancient 'Can you or I or anyone know?'

 

[Olympian]

Thank you all for your responses.