Two or more nouns, or nouns and pronouns, in the _singular_ number,
connected by disjunctive conjunctions, must have verbs, nouns, and
pronouns, agreeing with them in the _singular_; as, "Neither John _nor_
James _has_ learned _his_ lesson."
NOTE 1. When singular pronouns, or a noun and pronoun, of different
persons, are disjunctively connected, the verb must agree, in
person, with that which is placed nearest to it; as, "Thou _or_ I
_am_ in fault; I _or_ thou _art_ to blame; I, _or_ thou, _or_ he,
_is_ the author of it." But it would be better to say "Either I am
to blame or thou art," &c.
2. When a disjunctive occurs between a singular noun or pronoun and
a plural one, the verb must agree with the plural noun or pronoun,
which should generally be placed next to the verb; as, "Neither
poverty _nor riches_ were injurious to him;" "I _or_ they were
offended by it."
Constructions like these ought generally to be avoided.