I do not know either

USAGE SUMMARY

"I do not know either" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It is typically used to express uncertainty or lack of knowledge about a particular situation or topic. You can use it in a variety of contexts, such as in a conversation, when answering a question, or in a written piece of work. Example: Person 1: "Do you know who won the football game last night?" Person 2: "I do not know either. I didn't get a chance to watch it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

I do not know either, but I am trying.

The New Yorker

To avoid any appearance of bias, the Saginaw native noted: "You may think I am a friend of these boys but I do not know either of them.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

I don't know either, David.

The Guardian - Opinion

No, I don't know either – more wild weather.

The Guardian - Opinion

I don't know either of the parents and have only met the mother briefly.

The New York Times

Oh I don't know; either way - don't have them, whatever they are called.

The Guardian

"I don't know either if it's 100percentt reliable, but at least it draws attention".

The New York Times - Sports

"No, I don't know either, it was 1974," Diski writes.

The New Yorker

What other privileges one can think of, I don't know either".

The New York Times

Why are we in this situation?' And my friend said, 'Yeah, I don't know either.' ".

The New York Times

Just don't ask me to explain something to you when you're confused…because I don't know either!

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I do not know either" to express agreement with someone else's lack of knowledge or understanding. It avoids repetition and concisely conveys shared ignorance.

Common error

Avoid using "either" in affirmative sentences. "Either" is typically used in negative sentences or questions. For example, instead of saying "I know either", say "I know too" or "I also know".

Linguistic Context

Adverbial phrase modifying a verb, typically 'know'. "I do not know either" indicates a lack of knowledge that aligns with a previous statement of ignorance, acting as an agreement or shared sentiment. Ludwig confirms its standard usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Wiki

15%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "I do not know either" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to convey shared ignorance or agreement with someone else's lack of knowledge. As Ludwig AI confirms, this expression is common across various contexts, predominantly in news and media. Use it to succinctly express that you share the same uncertainty or lack of information. Avoid using "either" in affirmative sentences, as it's reserved for negative contexts. Remember, understanding shared ignorance is sometimes the first step to finding a solution!

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I have no idea either

Uses "have no idea" as a synonym for "do not know".

Neither do I know

Inverts the sentence structure for emphasis.

I'm not informed either

Focuses on the lack of information as the reason for not knowing.

I'm also unaware

Uses "unaware" to indicate a lack of knowledge, instead of "do not know".

I haven't a clue either

Uses the idiom "haven't a clue" to express ignorance.

I'm none the wiser

Uses the phrase "none the wiser" to mean still not knowing.

I'm clueless as well

Uses "clueless" to describe a lack of knowledge.

I'm in the dark too

Employs a metaphor to convey a lack of awareness.

I'm equally ignorant

Replaces "do not know" with "ignorant" to indicate a lack of information.

I'm just as uncertain

Highlights the feeling of uncertainty due to lack of knowledge.

FAQs

What does "I do not know either" mean?

The phrase "I do not know either" expresses that the speaker also lacks knowledge about something that another person has already admitted to not knowing. It indicates shared ignorance or uncertainty.

How can I use "I do not know either" in a sentence?

You can use "I do not know either" after someone has stated they don't know something. For example, if someone says "I don't know where the library is", you could respond with "I do not know either".

What are some alternatives to "I do not know either"?

Alternatives include "I have no idea either", "Neither do I", or "I don't know either".

Is it grammatically correct to say "I do not know either"?

Yes, "I do not know either" is grammatically correct. It's a standard way to express that you share the same lack of knowledge as someone else. You can also contract it to "I don't know either".