no matter...or/nor...?

[Rumplestiltskin]

The other day, I tried to write a sentence containing "no matter"
for two things. The sentence was:

"It is a nice-looking gift, no matter where or by whom it
was purchased."

Is the grammar in that sentence correct, or should I have written:

"It is a nice-looking gift, no matter where *NOR* by whom it
was purchased."?

Any advice or opinions would be appreciated.

[j***@yahoo.com]

Post by Rumplestiltskin
The other day, I tried to write a sentence containing "no matter"
"It is a nice-looking gift, no matter where or by whom it
was purchased."
"It is a nice-looking gift, no matter where *NOR* by whom it
was purchased."?
Any advice or opinions would be appreciated.

I'm strongly in favor of "or" here.

[Alan Jones]

Post by Rumplestiltskin
The other day, I tried to write a sentence containing "no matter"
"It is a nice-looking gift, no matter where or by whom it
was purchased."
"It is a nice-looking gift, no matter where *NOR* by whom it
was purchased."?
Any advice or opinions would be appreciated.

"Or" is correct. The negative "no matter" embraces both the "where" and the
"by whom", so a further negative word is not required.

Alan Jones

[Stephen Calder]

Post by Alan Jones

Post by Rumplestiltskin
The other day, I tried to write a sentence containing "no matter"
"It is a nice-looking gift, no matter where or by whom it
was purchased."
"It is a nice-looking gift, no matter where *NOR* by whom it
was purchased."?
Any advice or opinions would be appreciated.

"Or" is correct. The negative "no matter" embraces both the "where" and the
"by whom", so a further negative word is not required.
Alan Jones

But why not say

"No matter who purchased it, or where."

Eh?

I think "nor" would work, too; that would be more formal.

[Jeffrey Turner]

Post by Stephen Calder

Post by Alan Jones

Post by Rumplestiltskin
The other day, I tried to write a sentence containing "no matter"
"It is a nice-looking gift, no matter where or by whom it
was purchased."
"It is a nice-looking gift, no matter where *NOR* by whom it
was purchased."?
Any advice or opinions would be appreciated.

"Or" is correct. The negative "no matter" embraces both the "where"
and the "by whom", so a further negative word is not required.
Alan Jones

But why not say
"No matter who purchased it, or where."
Eh?

Because the "where" gets lost. It may not even pertain to the
place of purchase. I can read that as, "...or where (it is)."

Post by Stephen Calder
I think "nor" would work, too; that would be more formal.

No, "nor" just grates, or perhaps jars, in that position,

--Jeff

[Skitt]

Post by Jeffrey Turner

Post by Stephen Calder

Post by Alan Jones

Post by Rumplestiltskin
The other day, I tried to write a sentence containing "no matter"
"It is a nice-looking gift, no matter where or by whom it
was purchased."
"It is a nice-looking gift, no matter where *NOR* by whom it
was purchased."?
Any advice or opinions would be appreciated.

"Or" is correct. The negative "no matter" embraces both the "where"
and the "by whom", so a further negative word is not required.

But why not say
"No matter who purchased it, or where."
Eh?

Because the "where" gets lost. It may not even pertain to the
place of purchase. I can read that as, "...or where (it is)."

Post by Stephen Calder
I think "nor" would work, too; that would be more formal.

No, "nor" just grates, or perhaps jars, in that position,

I will cast my lot with those who prefer the "or" version of the original
poster's sentences.

[Stephen Calder]

Post by Jeffrey Turner

Post by Stephen Calder

Post by Alan Jones

Post by Rumplestiltskin
The other day, I tried to write a sentence containing "no matter"
"It is a nice-looking gift, no matter where or by whom it
was purchased."
"It is a nice-looking gift, no matter where *NOR* by whom it
was purchased."?
Any advice or opinions would be appreciated.

"Or" is correct. The negative "no matter" embraces both the "where"
and the "by whom", so a further negative word is not required.
Alan Jones

But why not say
"No matter who purchased it, or where."
Eh?

Because the "where" gets lost. It may not even pertain to the
place of purchase. I can read that as, "...or where (it is)."

I don't think there's much danger of it being taken that way. But why is
it in the passive? If you don't like my suggestion, whose big benefit is
brevity, see if you like:

"No matter who bought it or where they bought it."

Cuts words.

[Don Phillipson]

Post by Rumplestiltskin
"It is a nice-looking gift, no matter where or by whom it
was purchased."
"It is a nice-looking gift, no matter where *NOR* by whom it
was purchased."?

English is so flexible that we can often solve problems
of grammar for ourselves by rewritiing the sentence --
e.g.: ". . . nice-looking gift, no matter who bought it or where."

This reassures us that the word or need not be negated
in this type of construction. It is not ungrammatical to
write "no matter who bought it nor where," but this sort
of language identifies itself as "poetic," not for everyday use.