Should I use either or or neither nor?

The choice between the correlative conjunctions either … or and neither … nor depends on your intended meaning.

  • Use either … or when you want to present two options (e.g., “We can either go out to eat or order in”).
  • Use neither … nor when you want to express that two things are not true or did not happen (e.g., “We neither ate nor slept on the flight”).

When there is already a negative (e.g., “not,” “never “) in your sentence, use “or” to avoid a double negative (e.g., “We did not eat or sleep on the flight”).

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What is a synonym for not only but also?

Since not only … but also is a correlative conjunction, there is no exact synonym. However, instead of using not only … but also, you could rewrite the sentence to use a conjunctive adverb such as “moreover” or “furthermore” instead.

Not only … but also synonym examples
He not only won the election but also won by a landslide.

He won the election; moreover, he won by a landslide.

He won the election; furthermore, he won by a landslide.

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How do you write a compound-complex sentence?

You can write a compound-complex sentence in many different ways, but it must have the following components:

These components can be arranged in essentially any order. For example:

  • If the presentation goes poorly, I will call the client to apologize, but I don’t think we need to worry.
  • I will call the client to apologize if the presentation goes poorly, but I don’t think we need to worry.
  • The presentation went poorly; I called the client, whom I’ve known for years, to apologize.
  • I don’t think we need to worry, but if the presentation goes poorly, I will call the client to apologize.

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What is an example of a compound-complex sentence?

An example of a compound-complex sentence is “I want to go to London, but Carrie wants to go to New York because it is closer.”

This example has the necessary components of a compound-complex sentence:

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What is the difference between a simple and compound sentence?

Simple and compound sentences differ in their number of independent clauses (i.e., a group of words with a subject and verb that can stand on its own as a sentence).

Note that simple sentences can have compound subjects (e.g., “Jack and Lucy went shopping”) or compound predicates (e.g., “Jack went shopping and cooked dinner”) or both (e.g., “‘Jack and Lucy went shopping and cooked dinner”).

A compound sentence, in contrast, is formed when two full simple sentences are connected.

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How do you make a compound sentence?

A compound sentence is made by combining two simple sentences (or independent clauses) with a comma and coordinating conjunction or a semicolon (or, less commonly, with a colon or em dash).

Compound sentence examples
We can go to the store now, or Chelsea can go after dinner.

Complete the assignment for homework, but skip the last question.

The team blew an early lead; it was a tough loss.

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What is a compound sentence example?

An example of a compound sentence is “Rakesh likes baseball, but Simone prefers basketball.”

This sentence, like all compound sentences, has two independent clauses (“Rakesh likes baseball” and “Simone prefers basketball”). The two independent clauses are joined by a comma and a coordinating conjunction (“but”).

Other coordinating conjunctions (e.g., “and,” “so”) can also be used to form a compound sentence. Alternatively, a semicolon can be used (e.g., “Rakesh likes baseball; Simone prefers basketball”). An em dash or a colon can also be used to form a compound sentence, but this is less common and requires a specific relationship between the two clauses.

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Which word signals a nonrestrictive clause in a complex sentence?

The relative pronouns “which,” “who,” “whom,” and “whose” can all be used to signal a nonrestrictive clause in a complex sentence.

These pronouns often introduce an adjective clause (or relative clause), which is a type of dependent clause. When that dependent clause is connected to an independent clause, it forms a complex sentence.

Adjective clauses can be either restrictive or nonrestrictive. Nonrestrictive clauses are set off with commas.

Nonrestrictive clauses in complex sentences examples
Camila ordered an americano, which is an espresso and water.

My best friend, who is named Ana, is coming to visit me.

The CEO, whom most people assumed was going to retire, took a job at another company.

Emilio, whose apartment I am renting, has decided to move back to town.

Note that the relative pronoun “that” is only used in restrictive clauses.

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What is the difference between a complex sentence and a compound sentence?

Complex sentences are made up of one independent clause and at least one dependent clause.

Compound sentences are made up of two or more independent clauses connected with a comma and a coordinating conjunction or a semicolon (or, less commonly, with a colon or an em dash).

Complex vs compound sentence examples
Complex sentence Compound sentence
If it stops raining, I will go to the park. It stopped raining, so I went to the park.
Kya was sleeping while the teacher was talking. The teacher was talking, and Kya was sleeping.

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