d preclude the negative from
being understood in it; for, if an adverb, conjunction, or auxiliary verb,
preceding a negative, be understood in the succeeding clause, the negative
is understood also; if it be repeated, the negative must be repeated
likewise, or the clause becomes affirmative."--_Ib._, p. 330.

OBS. 20.--This author, proceeding with his remarks, suggests forms of
correction for several other common modes of expression, which he conceives
to be erroneous. For the information of the student, I shall briefly notice
a little further the chief points of his criticism, though he teaches some
principles which I have not thought it necessary always to observe in
writing. "'And seemed _not_ to understand ceremony, _or_ to despise it.'
_Goldsmith_. Here _either_ ought to be inserted before _not_. 'It is _not_
the business of virtue, to extirpate the affections of the mind, but to
regulate them.' _Addison_. The sentence ought to have been: 'It is the
business of virtue, _not_ to extirpate the affections of the mind, but to
regulate them.' 'I do _not_ think, that he was averse to the office; _nor_
do I believe, that it was unsuited to him.' How much better to say: 'I do
not think, that he was averse to the office, _or_ that it was unsuited to
him!' For the same reason _nor_ cannot follow _never_, the negative in the
first clause affecting all the rest."--_Ib._ p. 332. "_Nor_ is sometimes
used improperly after _no_: [as,] 'I humbly however trust in God, that I
have hazarded _no_ conjecture, _nor_ have given any explanation of obscure
points, inconsistent with the general sense of Scripture, which must be our
guide in all dubious passages.' _Gilpin_. It ought to be: '_and_ have given
_no_ explanation;' or, 'I have _neither_ hazarded any conjecture, _nor_
given any explanation.' The use of _or_ after _neither_ is as common, as
that of _nor_ after _no_ or _not_.[429] '_Neither_ the pencil _or_ poetry
are adequate.' _Coxe_. Properly, '_Neither_ the pencil _nor_ poetry _is_
adequate.' 'The vow of poverty _allowed_ the Jesuits individually, to have
_no_ idea of wealth.' _Dornford_. We cannot _allow_ a _nonentity_. It
should be: 'did _not_ allow, to have _any_ idea.'"--_Ib._, p. 333.

OBS. 21.--Thus we see that Churchill wholly and positively condemns _nor_
after _not, no_, or _never_; while Burn totally disapproves of _or_, under
the same circumstances. Both of these critics are wrong, because each
carries his point too far;