but neither

USAGE SUMMARY

"but neither" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to contrast two opposite situations or two elements that can't both be true. For example: "I wanted to take the train to work, but neither trains nor buses were running that morning."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But neither is sustainable.

The Economist

But neither has Malaysia.

The Economist

But neither is true.

The New York Times

But neither showed up.

The Economist

But neither was I.

The New York Times

But neither has Obama!

The New York Times

"But neither does H.P.D".

The New York Times

But neither applies.

The New Yorker

But neither can men.

Princeton University

But neither is observed.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

But neither one stuck.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "but neither", ensure the sentence structure clearly links back to the previously negated clause. The connection should be immediately apparent to maintain clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "but neither" when the first clause isn't negative. "I like apples, but neither do I like oranges" is incorrect; it should be "I like apples, but I don't like oranges" or "I don't like apples, and neither do I like oranges".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "but neither" functions as a conjunctive adverb. It connects two clauses, indicating that the second clause is also not true, similar to the first. This phrase is used to introduce a matching negative statement, enhancing cohesion, as also seen in Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

74%

Academia

19%

Science

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "but neither" is a grammatically correct and common conjunctive adverb used to connect two negative statements. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. It's most frequently found in news and academic contexts, making it suitable for neutral and professional communication. When using "but neither", ensure that it follows a negative statement to correctly convey a shared negation. Alternatives such as "nor" or "and neither" can be used depending on the specific context to express a similar meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

however, not either

Emphasizes the contrasting nature of both situations.

yet, not the other

Highlights a contrast or unexpected situation where one option is not the case, and neither is the other.

nonetheless, not that either

Similar to "but neither", but adds a stronger sense of concession or unexpectedness.

on the other hand, not even that

Introduces a contrasting viewpoint, indicating that the subsequent point is even less likely or applicable.

conversely, that's not the case

Directly contrasts the previous statement, denying its validity in the new context.

instead, both are not

Direct replacement showing that none of the earlier option are true or possible.

rather, both are not

Direct replacement showing that none of the earlier option are true or possible.

in contrast, both are false

Highlights a direct conflict where both preceding conditions do not hold true.

by contrast, it wasn't either

Emphasizes that something else occurred or exists is different from the point before.

in opposition, not this one also

Used to denote two things that can't coexist or cannot be true together.

FAQs

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

Use "but neither" to introduce a clause that also negates something, following a previous negative statement. For example, "I didn't enjoy the movie, but neither did my friend."

What does "but neither" mean?

"But neither" is used to indicate that something is also not true or does not apply, following a previous statement that already expressed a negative condition. It connects two negative ideas.

What are some alternatives to using "but neither"?

Alternatives include phrases like "nor", "and neither", or "neither" used alone, depending on the context. For example, instead of "I don't like coffee, but neither do I like tea", you could say "I don't like coffee, nor do I like tea".

Is it correct to say "but neither" at the beginning of a sentence?

While grammatically acceptable, starting a sentence with "but neither" can sound awkward. It's generally better to include it within a sentence to connect it to a preceding negative statement, for smoother reading.