I did neither

USAGE SUMMARY

"I did neither" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
It is often used to express that the speaker did not do two things mentioned previously in the conversation, or in response to a question. Here are some examples: 1. "Did you wash the dishes or take out the trash?" "I did neither, I was too busy studying for my exam." 2. "Did you finish your homework or watch TV?" "I did neither, I went for a run instead." 3. "Did you buy the red dress or the blue one?" "I did neither, I found a different dress that I liked more." 4. "Did you call your mom or your dad?" "I did neither, I sent them both a text message instead."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

I did neither.

The New York Times - Sports

Not knowing which to do first — eat or sleep — I did neither.

The New Yorker

"I think I did neither of those things, so my goal was accomplished".

The New York Times - Sports

During the first few months I did neither because I felt queasy if I did so, but I continued to do both in moderation after that.

The New York Times

"It is perfectly clear that, had I not acted as I did, neither Sian nor Becky would ever have been found and Halliwell would be free to abduct and kill other girls".

The Guardian

But I did neither.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

"Well, I do neither of those things well, so . .

The New Yorker

Fight or flight; but I do neither.

Vice

"I am doing neither".

The New York Times

I was doing neither.

Vice

I'm going to do neither.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I did neither" when you want to clearly and concisely state that you did not perform either of two previously mentioned actions. It's particularly effective when responding to a question offering two choices.

Common error

Avoid using "I did neither" when you mean "I didn't do any of them" if more than two options were presented. "I did neither" specifically refers to two options only.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I did neither" functions as a negative response indicating that the speaker did not perform either of the two actions previously mentioned. Ludwig AI confirms this is a common and correct usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I did neither" is a grammatically sound and widely understood way to express that you didn't perform two specific actions. As noted by Ludwig AI, this phrase is deemed correct and usable in written English. It appears most frequently in news and media contexts, maintaining a neutral register suitable for various situations. While less common than simpler negations, "I did neither" provides a concise and clear way to deny two presented options. When you mean to negate two choices, this is a good and effective phrase to use.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I failed to do both

Expresses the same idea with a negative construction focusing on failure.

I performed neither action

Replaces "did" with "performed" and "neither" with "action" for a slightly more formal tone.

I undertook neither of them

Uses "undertook" instead of "did" and clarifies that it refers to two specific actions.

I avoided both

Replaces the original phrase with a simpler construction emphasizing avoidance.

I executed neither option

Substitutes "did" with "executed" and "neither" with "option", suggesting a deliberate choice.

I engaged in neither activity

Replaces "did" with "engaged in" and "neither" with "activity", emphasizing participation.

I omitted both actions

Uses "omitted" which highlights that the user decided to leave out both actions

I accomplished neither task

Uses "accomplished" instead of "did" and "task" for a focus on completion.

I abstained from both

Uses a more formal and emphatic term, abstained to express non-participation in two options

I did nothing of the kind

Uses a more general expression to indicate a rejection of the previous suggestions.

FAQs

How can I use "I did neither" in a sentence?

Use "I did neither" to indicate that you performed neither of two previously mentioned actions. For example, "Did you eat the cake or the pie?" "I did neither; I wasn't hungry."

What's a more formal alternative to "I did neither"?

For a more formal tone, consider saying "I performed neither action" or "I undertook neither of them". These options offer a slightly more elevated style while conveying the same meaning.

Can I use "I did neither" if there are more than two options?

No, "I did neither" is specifically for when there are only two options. If there are more than two options, use "I did none of them" or another appropriate phrase.

Is "I didn't do neither" grammatically correct?

No, "I didn't do neither" is a double negative and is considered grammatically incorrect. The correct phrasing is "I did neither" or "I didn't do either".