Correlative conjunction

A correlative conjunction is a pair of linking words that work together to join two matched elements, such as 'either… or', 'neither… nor', 'both… and' and 'not only… but also'.

Either we leave now or we miss the train. Two words, either and or, working as a pair to join two matched options. That is a correlative conjunction.

List of correlative conjunctions

• either… or: Either call her or text her.
• neither… nor: He neither apologised nor explained.
• both… and: Both the book and the film were cut.
• not only… but also: She not only wrote the script but also directed it.
• whether… or: I don't know whether to laugh or cry.
• as… as: The sequel was as long as the original.
• rather… than: I would rather walk than wait.
• no sooner… than: No sooner had we sat down than the lights went out.

The parallelism rule

What earns them a glossary entry is that they impose the strictest parallelism requirement in English: whatever follows the first half must match, in form, whatever follows the second.

• Broken: She not only rewrote the ending but also the first three chapters. A verb phrase after not only, a bare noun phrase after but also.
• Fixed: She rewrote not only the ending but also the first three chapters.
• Also fixed: She not only rewrote the ending but also cut the prologue.

The repair is nearly always the same move: shift the first half of the pair along until the two branches begin at the same place.

Smaller rules

• Neither takes nor, not or.
• With either… or and neither… nor, the verb agrees with the nearer subject: Neither the cast nor the director was told.
• Not only… but also is heavy. It announces that something impressive is coming and then has to deliver. In narrative prose a plain and usually reads better; save the correlative for the sentence where the second item genuinely outranks the first.

Frequently asked questions

What is a correlative conjunction?

A correlative conjunction is a pair of words that work as a team to join two equal parts of a sentence, such as either/or and both/and. Example: 'You can either stay or leave.'

What are the most common correlative conjunctions?

Either/or, neither/nor, both/and, not only/but also, whether/or, as/as, rather/than and no sooner/than.

Does the verb agree with the first or second subject after either/or?

With either/or and neither/nor, the verb agrees with the subject closer to it: 'Neither the players nor the coach was ready', but 'Neither the coach nor the players were ready.'