not … or; not … nor; and not

not used once for two negative ideas

When not (used once) refers to two or more verbs, nouns, adjectives, etc, we usually join them with or.

• He doesn’t smoke or drink. (not He doesn’t smoke nor drink.)

• She wasn’t angry or upset.

• It’s not on the table or in the cupboard.

However, we can use nor after a pause, to separate and emphasise a second verb, adjective, etc.

• Our main need is not food, nor money. It is education.
• She didn’t phone that day, nor the next day.

Note that neither cannot be used in this way.

And cannot normally be used in this kind of structure.

• The project was not successful in economic terms or in political terms. (not The project was not successful in political terms and in economic terms.)

This also happens after negative nouns or adjectives.

• The country suffered from a lack of employment legislation or of an independent labour union. (More normal than a lack of … and …)

note

For the use of neither … nor to join two negative ideas (e.g. He neither smokes nor drinks), (see here).

Two separate negative clauses: not either

After using a negative verb in one clause, we can mention a second negative idea or fact in another clause with not … either.

• Daniel isn’t here today. Jack isn’t here either. (not Jack isn’t here neither.)

Another way of expressing this is with neither/nor + be/auxiliary + subject.

• Daniel isn’t here today. Neither is Jack.
• I can’t sing, and nor can any of my family.

For details of this and similar structures, (see here).

Also, as well and too are not normally used with not in this way.

• You can’t have an apple, and you can’t have an orange either. (not … and you can’t have an orange also / as well / too.)

Positive + negative: also / as well / too

After mentioning a positive (non-negative) fact or idea, we can add a negative point by using not … also, not … as well or not … too.

• You can have an apple, but you can’t have an orange too.
• He drinks too much, but at least he doesn’t smoke as well.